WORKING THE POPPER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8179, 22 July 1912, Page 8

WORKING THE POPPER

ONE MAX OR TWO? INTERVIEW WITH MR CHARLES RHODES. PBESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, July 21 Mr Charles Rhodes, president of the Xew Zealand -Goldmine Owners' Association, gave a reporter eome information regarding the machines which are at the bottom of the mining trouble at Reefton. He stated that the alleged disabilities of the machines have been altogether exaggerated. The fact is that one-man drills ate so light and so simple in construction that their manipulation is easy. "They weigh only 701 b," said Mr Rhodes, “and 1 am able to produce men

who can work two drills at the same time —one by each hand. Of course this would lie in a favourable placet whore the machines could be set up close together. lam also certain that I can find a woman who can run a popper drill, so that it is clear that the actual working of the drill is not onerous for any practical miners. “Then, as to the dust bogey, it may be true that the men have permitted the drills to raise dust, but if so they have done so in contravention of the mining* regulations, which provide that a spray must be at hand for use with all drills* As a matter of fact the inspectors of mines see that this requirement is pro., vided, though I have known cases where miners have refused or neglected to use the spray when, it was actually at their very elbows. “Another objection made against run-, ning the drills single-handed is that tho men. have to work alone. That is not the case, for I know of no instances an. New Zealand where a driller’s mate is not working close by, at some of the various classes of work that has to be dons as well as drilling: so that in case of need one man is handy to the other. The reason for the miners’ objection is thafe the ‘popper’ is so handy they fear it will rednoe the number of men required. A» has happened in many other industries, a contrary result will follow the use oc labor-saving tools in mining. A redne*. tiou in the cost of mining means an increase in the quantity of or© within thai limits of payability, so that more men. are necessary to break it out. Though the 'poppers’ simplify the work and make it easier, the men will not be asked to. work them without obtaining their share of advantage. One shilling per day w added to their wages, which is equivalent to a rise of 10 per cent.—a very substantial increment. , ~ . “Contractors who are left to decide for themselves do not hesitate to make full use of one-man drills, very much to thei* own advantage. lam very certain thna New Zealand miners are quite as ready and as able to adapt themselves to the. use of these drills as Mexicans. Italians and Chinese, who now operate popper drills in Mexico, the States, and feouth Africa, while British miners use them in scores of mines. In Australia the time will come when the miners will insist on being supplied with these light drills; to relievo them of tho labor of sinking ■with hammers in the old-fashioned way., which they will then describe as being good enough only for the dark ages bn* not for men _ with modern labor ami sweat-saving ideas."