MINERS AGAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24214, 4 March 1942, Page 4

MINERS AGAIN

MILLERTON STOPPAGE 500 TONS LOST DAILY URGENTLY NEEDED COAL STRIKE OVER TWO YOUTHS [BT TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WESTPORT, Tuesday The stoppage at the Millerton mine, according to a statement made by the management, involves a loss in production of approximately 500 tons of coal a day at a time when coal is urgently required. The Millerton Miners' Union, says the management's statement, requested that two horse-drivers in the Old Dip section of the colliery be paid "wet time" allowance where these drivers get wet taking mine horses from the mine mouth stables to the daylight entrance of the Settlement section. Allowance for Oilskins These drivers have been receiving, wet or dry, an allowance of threepence a day, or Is 3d per working week of five days, to provide themselves with oilskins for an above-ground trip of approximately 20 minutes each way from the mine mouth stables and back once in each week. The agreement provides for such payment. On the day in question one of the drivers went to the mine with his horse in rain without his coat, the statement continues. On arrival at the mine the men employed in this mine proceeded to hold a meeting underground, contrary to the provisions of the Coal Mines Act. The result was that the men in this section refused to work and returned home. When men in other part 3 of the colliery heard of the action of the Old Dip mine men they also stopped work. Union's Notification The statement adds that instead of complying with the agreement to submit differences to the local disputes committee the union apparently decided on direct action, because at 12.30 p.m. on Monday, the union secretary notified the management by telephone that the union, then in meeting, hacl decided that the drivers must be given wet time allowance, that the company was to take the horses to the mine, and that the men were not going to work again until and unless their demands were granted. The drivers concerned are 19 and 18 years of age respectively. The first is paid £1 Is 6d a day and the second 18s a day, and each is allowed 3d a day extra for the purpose of providing oilskins for himself. The amount paid last year for this purpose was £2 18s per man.