35-Hr Week Sought By Coal Miners

Northern Advocate, 10 January 1948, Page 2

35-Hr Week Sought By Coal Miners

WELLINGTON, Sat. (Sp.)—The Government is considering a proposal that all coal mines in New Zealand should work a seven-hour day and a 85-hour week, as from April 1. At the Dobson state mine in Greymouth the men aie all catty working a seven-hour day. _ . . , Other groups, it is stated, are negotiating with the -Viinister of Mines (Mr McLagan) and are likely to adopt the proposal or the council of the United Mine Workers’ Union to start this innovation as from April 1.

No comment is available iff Wellington. The Minister is still on holiday in Christchurch and will not return to Wellington until Tuesday. The Under-Secretary of Mines (Me C. H. Benncy) declined to comment on the expectation of a seven-hour day, saying that this was a matter of Government policy. TARGET FOR 1947 It is reported that the miners were set a target of 2,900,000 tons of coal in 1947 and that {hey were promised by the Government that if this target was reached the seven-hour day would be introduced as from Wednesday. Coal production in 1946 was 2,793,376 tons, so that the goal last year required an additional 106,130 tons. The latest coal production figures available are only up to the end of October. Mr Benney said that the 1947 total would, not be completed until the end of this month as the department was still awaiting figures from several pri-vately-owned mines. It is apparent, however, that while the output will be slightly more than

in 1946. the miners have not achieved their target. The miners in the Dobson colliery apparently have instituted a sevenhour day "of their own accord, without waiting "for a general application, but their decision may hasten its application to all mines. STATEMENT SOON? Atij early statement can be expected from the Minister. The efforts of New Zealand miners to achieve a 35-hour week recall the presence of the secretary of the Australian Coal Miners' Federation (Mr J. W S. Granti at the last annual conference of the United Mine Workers’ Council in June. Mr Grant addressed the conference and said that a similar move was taking place in Australia. He urged the New Zealand miners to make an extra effort to achieve the 1947 target of 2.900.000 tons in the interests of the country and of themselves.

He said that it seemed evident that if the miners were prepared to step up their output they would be granted the seven-hour day.