NGAKAWAU STRIKE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11307, 5 September 1922, Page 5

NGAKAWAU STRIKE

MINERS TO RESUME WORK DISPUTES COMMITTEE’S MAJORITY FINDING. DOYLE TO BE REINSTATED. The disputes committee appointed to deal with the strike sat at Ngakawau on Thursday last. The personnel of the committee was:—Messrs N. D. Hood, chief inspector of machinery (chairman); B. L. Hammond and W. M. Crowe (representing the mine owners).; Messrs James O’Brien , and H. L. Evans (representing the Miners’ Union). _ The issues submitted for settlement were as follow :—(1) Is the company’s proposed system of working the engine-room and boilers on the night shift satisfactory from a safety point of view? (2) To inquire into the dismissal of engine-driver Doyle, and the matter of his reinstatement. The chairman’s decision, which was eoi.ourred in by the, mine owners’ representatives and disagreed with by tho union’s representatives, was as follows: “(1) The company’s proposed system of working the engine-room andl boilers on night shift is in my opinion reasonable and can be performed with safety, and without inconvenience, by one man in effective charge. The said proposals are. as follow: —The fireman going off shift to leave the hoppers fully charged. A man to be engaged at the cleaning of empty or idle boilers or other similar duties within the power-hourse, and also to be available in case of emergency, if required;- and, further, to assist the engine-driver in the preparation of the boilers and machinery for the day shift. (2) That Doyle’s action in taking over the shift at H p.m., and closing the plant down at 12.30 a.m.. was, in my opinion, a breach of section 56 of the rules and regulations under the Coal Mines Act, 1908, and left the engineer no alternative but to dismiss Doyle, and the dismissal was therefore justifiable. It might he taken that Doyle’s action was hasty, and in a measure due to extenuating circumstances. I would therefore recommend that the company take this into consideration when considering the matter of his reinstatement.” The Miners’ Union held a meeting the following day to consider the findings, and it was resolved to commence work forthwith, The company has agreed to reinstate Bngino-driveT Doyle in view of his long service with the company, and in deference to the concluding paragraph of the committee’s finding. It is-understood that the mine was to have reopened yesterday after six weeks’ idleness. DETAILS OF THE DISPUTE. GENERAL STRIKE UNLIKELY. Regarding the dispute it is stated that'from 1915 to 1921, in the Weet-port-Stockton power-house, it has been the practice for the engine-driver to do his own firing for the greater part of , the night-shift, when the power is about one-eighth of the day load. TJwi boilers are fitted with mechanical stokers, and it is stated that the firing can he done in a few minutes, and requires doing once an hour. In 1921 a fireman was employed, and the engine-driver required- to do running repairs. On July 19th last, the company issued instructions that the engine-driver was to do his own firing and the fireman to da repair work. Engine-driver Doyle declined to do his own firing, and before going on shift be notified the engineer, that he would close down the plant at 12.30 a.m. unless a fireman did the firing. The engineer instructed -Doyle to do the firing, and wariied hita against closing down the plant. Doyle closed down the whole plant at 12.30 a.m., and the engineer went' into the power-house and dismissed the engine-driver. The following day the Miners’ Union waited on Hie management and objected to the engine-driver being required to do his own firing. The company declined to give way, and the men, declined to work, The mine ha» bwem. idle sinoe. A few days ago there was talk of all coal mines on the West Coast going out on strike in sympathy with the Ngakawau men, but it is understood, that a ballot taken at the various mines disclosed that the miners were by no means in favour of a general stoppage.