THE STATE GOAL STRIKE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6995, 8 December 1909, Page 8

THE STATE GOAL STRIKE.

PRACTICALLY SETTLED. MINERS' EXECUTIVE CONFER WITH MINISTERS STATEMENT OF THE CASE.

Matters in connection with the. State coalminers' strike took a definite turn yesterday. On Monday the executive of the Miners' Federation was informed that whatever they had to say in regard to the question should bo placed in writing before the interview with the Ministers could ba granted. This at titude the executive resented. The members declined to submit anything- in writing, feeling that it was quite impossible, without a personal interview, to thoroughly state the facts of the case. Yesterday morning counsel for the federation, Mr O'Rogan, addressed a letter to the Prime Minister epitomising the men's grievances, and pointing out that practically the sole point at issue was the question of trucking, in connection with which the men's demand appeared so reasonable that it was eminently desirable they should be given an opportunity to place the matter in their own way before the Prime Minister. Shortly before 1 p.m. the Prime Minister replied that ho would, with the Minister of Mines, meet the executive in the Cabinet room at 5.30 p.m. The'West Coast members of the federation were leaving on their return by the Mapourika, and the steamer's departure was delayed to enable the conference to take place. The conference with Ministers was attended by Messrs Semple (president), R. Manning (secretary), Parry (Waihi), Fulton (Huntly), Armstrong (State Mino Extension), Dowgray (Millertoh), and Mr O'Regan. The members of Parliament present representing coal mining districts were the Hon. A. E. Guinness, Colvin, Seddon, Poland and Greenslado. Tho interview with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Mines, which was held in camera, lasted nearly two hours. Mr Semple explained the case for the men at length, prefacing his remarks by giving an emphatic cbntradiction to certain statements about the "guns being loaded," .etc., ascribed to him by the Greymouth press. Messrs Dowgray and Manning amplified Mr Semple's remarks. The discussion was at times very frank on tho part of the miners' executive. Eventually the executive agreed to a proposal that the Minister of Mines should visit Greymouth after the session to personally make himself acquainted with the men's demands, any of their requests now granted in 'other mines and not granted by the State mine to be conceded, the men in the meantime to return to work. EXECUTIVE'S STATEMENT Prior to sailing for Greymouth last night the following official announcement by tho executive was handed to the press:— The executive of the New Zeuland Federation of Miners has authorised the publication of tho following statement:— Wo assembled in Wellington for several reasons—we knew that tho men now on strike have substantial grievances, ,we felt certain that it was desirable to explain these fully to Ministers, and we know from experience that nothing is so satisfactory as a personal. interview. That the State miners at Point Elizabeth have a good case is easily shown. For years past they have been dissatisfied with the trucking conditions to which miners are there subject. Clause 13 of the industrial agreement which has just expired reads as follows: —

Miners working in bords to truck ' their coal from the working face to ' the flat-sheet and run first jig. Jig • not to exceed two pillars. If required to truck over 50 yards up to 75 yards, 3d per ton extra to be paid, and 2d per ton for every additional 25 yards. In order to understand what this means it must be explained that two pillars means a distance of one hundred yards, and hence of two men at the faoe one man must bo continually trucking. The men feel very strongly that this is unfair, and hence they ask that there should be a subdivision of labour—that the trucking should be done by truckers, and that the miner should remain continuously throughout his shift at the face. Now, the opinion has been sedulouslv created that in asking for this condition the men are asking to be placed in a position better than that obtaining at other mines. Such is not, the fact. On the contrary, the men are asking to be placed in the same position as that which obtains in other mines. In no mine in the country except the State mine at Point Elizabeth and the Blackball mine are miners .asked to truck coal suoh a distance as one hundred yards. In none of the North Island mines is any trucking done by a miner. At Denniston practically no trucking is done by a miner. At Millerton a miner is never asked to truck; It is true that in the Stato mine at Seddonville it is provided that no miner shall truck more than twenty-two yards, but in actual practice a miner never trucks at Seddonville. It will thus, be seen that the men now on strike are asking merely to be placed in a position pf equality with the remaining coalmines of the Dominion.

It is admitted that to separate the duties of truoker and miner will imply the employment of an additional eighteen or twenty men. But as against this it should be borne in mind that the output must be greatly increased when the miner is able to spend his whole time in the face hewing coal. In any case we are confident that the great majority of the people of New Zealand will support our view—that the miners employed by the State should enjoy conditions not less advantageous than those already extended by private employers. Apart from the utility of the proposal that miners should riot truck coal, the argument from a humanitarian point of view is irresistible. The following are the main reasons in sppport from this point of view:— 1. In the mine at Point Elizabeth the pillars are exceptionally high, being not less than fourteen feet. This means that the work of timbering is more than, ordinarily dimcult and dangerous, and hence it is absolutely necessary that not less than two men should attend to the timbering. To leave one man by himself at such work is to court accidents. 2. The miner while working at the face gets into a heavy perspiration. Directly he leaves the face with his * truck of coal he removes into an airway where there is a strong cur,•rent of cold air, and he is often obliged to stand there for ten or fifteen minutes, with the result that he is prone to contract a chill, and in any case he is not fully fit to hew coal when he returns to the face after such an experience. Apart, therefore, from the increased efficacy of labour in consequences of leaving the miner his full time at the face, the change asked for by the miners means a reduced accident risk and

improved health .conditions for the men. 3. The miners in this" particular mine are obliged to use safety lamps. Now, the effect of _ these lamps is in time to seriously impair the eyesight, and hence it is absolutely dangerous that men who are obliged to use safety lamps should be obliged also to do the work of trucking and jigging. This work is not skilled work as compared with that of the miner, but it is work that can be done with much greateT safety and efficacy by young active men in possession of all their bodily faculties. Under all the circumstances we were anxious to interview the Prime Minister and his colleague, • the Minister of Mines. As a result of a conference with these gentlemen this evening we have obtained their assurance that the Minister of Mines will himself visit -the mine after the session, and will inquire into everything allieged by us with a view to giving the men at Point Elizabeth conditions not less favourable than those now obtaining at the other mines. Under these circumstances the executive has decided to 'advise the men now on strike to resume work. VEEY HOPEFUL PEOSPECTS PRIME MINISTER'S VIEW. PROPOSALS FOR TEMPORARY SETTLEMENT. . "There are very hopeful prospects of a satisfactory settlement," said the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) when he was approached after tho long interview which took place between himself, the miners' representatives, and the Minister of Mines. Sir Joseph did not deem it advisable to further explain the position at present, as, the miners were to be consulted as soon as the deputation reached Greymouth. The West Coast' steamer was delayed to enable them to leave immediately after the interview. '

Front other sources some indication was obtained of the lines of settlement, or rather the proposals for a temporary healing of the breach. The interview lasted from 5.30 o'clock until 7.30 o'clock, and was attended by Messrs Colvin, Guinness, Seddon, Greenslade, and Poland, as representatives of mining constituencies. The'miners' delegates were Messrs Scruple, Manning, and Dowgray. Their representations are dealt with under another heading. MINISTEE TO VISIT THE MINE. It was eventually agreed that the Minister of Mines should visit the Point Elizabeth mine as soon as possible after Christmas, so as to obtain a. first-hand idea of' the nosition from the men s point of view 7 . As to the trucking grievance, there was considerable discussion unon the nuestion whether the old state of affairs was to be allowed to continue until the Minister's visit, if the men agreed to resume work, and _it was decided that the miners would bo advised to go on as usual ponding a permanent settlement of Vie matter. The Minister of Mines 'nformed the deputation that the Government did not desire to treat its employees in any different fashion from the miners engaged in private mines. , THE POSITION EEVIEWED I MB O'REGAN'S VIEWS. ■HOPES FOR AN HONOURABLE CONCLUSION. i Mr V. J. O'Regan, solicitor to the (Federation of Miners, who has taken bn active .part in bringing the miners 'representatives into touch with Ministers, is well pleased with the turn affairs have 1 taken, and intends to use la-11 his influence in favour of the resumption of work. To a, "Times reIpresenrtative- Mr O'Regan ■exDresssd the ■opinion that, althoush the (Strike was 'unfortunate, it -was too late to criticise lit. The wooer course now was to bring it to an honourable conclusion. He was (quite sure that Mr McKenzie had the 'confidence of the miners as a class, and ithait he will be aUo to redress the hardships obtaining not only without any 'loss to the country, but with positive 'advanta.ee. . ' •.,... i As for Ithe critics who sought to damage the principle of ■ State coal, mining Iby inferences from the strike, it should ibo remembered, said Mr O Regan, that it was by no means the first time that (State employees had struck. For example, .the costal service of England Tiad struck when Mr Arnold Forster was (Postmaster-General, and not .long. a>go Uhe employees of the Victorian ■ State 'railways bad struck. Yet it had not "been suggested that because of these •tacts the State should divest itself of the responsibility of carrying letters or "of running railways ■ , i "You will recollect," added Mr O'Regan, "that nearly ia year ago the press teemed with adverse.comments on the refusal of the Reefton miners to submit to a medical examination.. . At the time I expressed the opinion that the Government had done the right thins ■by undertaking (the responsibility it assumed on. that occasion, and I ventured to add that in a few mouths .people would be wondering what all. the )fuss had been aboult. Now look.at the facts. Not a single claim has been-made upon the State, in spite of the experts, Kvho assured us that no insurance co.mrpany could assume th«- increased (risk, and', an proof of the fact that the attitude of the miners 'had reason and justice behind it. legislation is now before Parliament to imake the medical test 'illegal. I mention (this merely to give -weight to my opinion now that once again the right thing has been done. I trust that in a few.days the State mine iat Point Elizabeth, will a.gain be in full swing, and. I feel confident that we have ■heard the, last of any serious industrial trouble in connection with it." ;

OTHEE RESOLUTIONS .A resolution was passed "by the miners' executive emphatically against the shipment of any coal to gooutside New Zealand; ox- anything being done to sever the bonds of -unity existing' between Australian and New Zealand unionists. A further .resolution was passed in the event of the mineowners attempting to raise the price of coal during the present crisis, the federation would take drastic steps to .prevent the consumers from being exploited.