Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1931. WEST COAST COAL MINES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 204, 30 July 1931, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1931. WEST COAST COAL MINES.

Consequent upon tie announcement ... from W estport last week that the waterside workers had removed the embargo on the handling' of Charming* Creek and Cascade coal, it was hoped that the period 5 of unrest among' the West Coast coal miners was ending. The situation, however, is still one of doubt. Later advices from Westport state that the miners, acting apparently under the instructions of the West Coast Miners’ Council, decided not to work on Monday, with the result that mines at Denniston, Millerton, Stockton and Westport Main were idle. Further efforts, it was stated, were-to be made to stamp out tribute and contract mining*. The waterside workers’ action significantly followed the Government’s decision to take a very firm stand in the matter. Requested by the Alliance of Labour to arrange a conference between the Charming Greek and Cascade coal mine owners and representatives of the workers’ unions affected, Mr Forbes made it a condition that work must be resumed before a representative of the Mines Department was sent to Westport to determine whether a conference as desired by the Alliance would be helpful. The embargo had been in operation for five weeks and the re-opening of the port means the provision of work for a number of the populace apart from those who voluntarily deprived Themselves of it to assist the union miners’ campaign against what they call tribute mining. It also provides the opportunity for the two sections of miners to endeavour to compose their differences. On behalf of the union it is contended that the miners in the two mines referred to are working under the tribute system, which is regarded as a menace to unionist principles. But, according to a statement made in the Legislative Council by Hon. W. H. Mclntyre, who has had practical experience as a coal miner, the operations at Charming Creek and Cascade mines do not come .within the definition of tribute mining. The owners are not paid a royalty on the coal mined, such as the word “tribute” infers ; instead, the two parties have almost complete control of the management and output of the mines, • and they deliver the coal to the owners at an arranged price. The men employed are paid by the miners themselves on piecework rates, and in this fact, it is stated, can be seen the reason for the opposition _ expressed by the Coal Miners’ Union which, having set its face against payment by results, has endeavoured but unsuccessfully to secure the abolition of the system. Costs of production are increased by day wages, while a majority of the miners express

their preference to working on piece rates. Under, this system the miners at the Cascade mine were stated by Mr Mclntyre to be earning a minimmu of 25s per day, compared with the day rate of 18s, their average daily earnings since co-operative mining was instituted being 30s. Mr Mclntyre quoted interesting figures showing the development of co-operative mining since 1921. In that year 10,320 tons of coal were produced under this system; last year the output of the co-operative mines was 286,520 tons, with 596 employees. Mr Mclntyre’s statement explains briefly the pronounced opposition of the West Coast Miners’ Council to the contract _ system of mining carried on with profit to the men so engaged. Further opposition, leading to events that were recently witnessed on the West Coast, will be most regrettable, for the men engaged in co-operative mining are working to improve their lot in life and, according to Mr Mclntyre, the system cannot be regarded as dangerous to the general conditions of mining. Its popularity can be gauged from the further fact that 28 applications for co-operative mining are reported to be awaiting the approval of the Minister of Mines.