SOCIALISM AND MINING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20263, 24 May 1929, Page 15

SOCIALISM AND MINING.

" EVERY MAN A BOSS."

RESIGNATION OF MANAGER. All is not well with tho socialist-con-trolled Balmain colliery, says the Sydney Morning Herald. It is reported that because every man • wanted to be " his own boss" the manager and engineer have resigned. Tho responsibility for the management of tho min.e has now passed into tho hands of tho secretary, who is a member of the Balmain miners' lodge.

When officials of tho Miners' Federation took ov.or the mine with tho object of running it on a collective contract system they held high hopes of making the rnino a model one. They thought that tho profits would go into the pockets of the men instead of to tho "boss," and that the venture would demonstrate how tho socialisation of industry could bo accomplished. Although the men secured 16s a ton for all saleable coal delivered into the bins they havo still been unablo to meet expenses. Recently their wages were reduced by 10s to pay the salaries of the surface hands. This week it is expected there will bo a 7£ per cent, deduction from their wages, besides a 12J, per cent, levy for tho relief of tho northern miners. Tho insistence of the nion that a certain dismissed employee should be _ reinstated is said to havo been the immediate cause for the resignation of the manager and engineer.