LOWER OUTPUT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25454, 8 February 1944, Page 2

LOWER OUTPUT

WAIKATO COALFIELD SERIOUS LOSS OF TIME f (Special) AUCKLAND, Feb. 7. / How seriously coal output has been 1 reduced in the Waikato by stop-work ( meetings, absenteeism and the early \ departure of men from the mines is > shown in a statement issued on behalf | of all the mining companies operating 1 in the district. The statement, which / reviews the present situation, is as j follow's:—

“ Coal mining operations in the Wai- i kato field have opened disastrously, this year. The output for the period 1 January 5 to 31 (19 working days) is / 43,470 tons, compared with 58,163 tons \ for the same period of 1943 —a falling- i off in production of 14,693 tons, or S 25.26 per cent, on 1943 production. ’ These figures do not include the two j Government mines at Mangapehi and j Ohura. The capacity of the Waikato ; mines, fully manned and working full . time, is materially in excess of the outputs referred to. Two Main Reasons “The main reasons for the substantial falling-off in production are absenteeism and stop-work meetings. The percentage averages of daily absenteeism covering the working period of 19 days mentioned at the six Waikato mines are as f0110w5:—21.69, 24.8, 15.55, 18.28, 23 and 9.2. This does not take into consideration men absent for sickness or accident. Time lost in these mines for stop-work meetings during the period amounted to 142 hours 50 minutes, or 15 per cent, of working time.

“It is noticed in the statement by the Minister of Railways, Mr R. Semple, published on January 31 last, that (inter alia) ‘stoppage of work in the mines due to disputes and other causes was only a comparatively small factor in bringing about the present situation, and the production per jnan was higher at present than it had ever been.’ Now turn to the Statement of the Mining Controller, Mi*~ C. H. Benney, of January , 31: ‘Figures as to the production per miner employed are not yet available. Generally speaking, there has been no increase in the output per miner per shift worked, the trend of increased output per miner per year being attributable to the greater number of shifts worked.’ Those intimately connected with the industry know that Mr Benney’s statement is the correct one, covering output per miner per shift. Exhaustion of Reserves “The figures supplied show that the stoppages of work due to disputes and other causes (stop-work meetings) are not a comparatively small factor, as the Minister suggests, in the Waikato field at any rate, but rather are a very serious setback to production. Mr Benney states that the miner ‘participates in stoppings which are indefensible and inexcusable,’ and with that statement .the owners concur. “This year the coal position will require the most careful attention if industrial and other requirements are to be met. In past years there has always been a reserve of coal to draw upon in case of emergency. All these reserves, however, have now .been consumed, and requirements will have to be fully met by production. “It is true that production _ in the Waikato has increased. This was brought about by increased production from the two Government mines in the King Country more recently opened up and now fully developed. Additional men have been employed in the Waikato mines, and that, has added to production. But consumption has increased also by the substantial demands of military camps and army hospitals. The Mines Department is fully alive to the situation, and is endeavouring to open up new avenues of production. Sense of Responsibility Needed

“If the demands of railways, industries, army, hospitals, and domestic users are to be met this year, a more serious attitude towards their responsibilities will have to be shown by the men engaged in the industry in the Waikato field. 'The exhortations of Ministers and responsible heads of unions do not encourage one to expect that this will be so. The men’s promise to the Minister of Mines to avoid stop-work meetings is not being carried out; rather have they been increased, in spite of the fact that ample machinery is available for the disposal of all industrial disputes. “The hours of work are shortened by the men continually leaving the mines early. Absenteeism is_ prevalent as in other industries. No disciplinary action is taken to stop these practices, and the irresponsible section of the men appears to have control of the situation. Unless the mines are fully manned and work proceeds activelv for the full working day, the present situation of dire shortage of supplies is likely to continue.”