MINERS MUST WORK TO KEEP PITS OPEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27057, 16 April 1949, Page 8

MINERS MUST WORK TO KEEP PITS OPEN

From a Reuter Correspondent in London Plans to save the flve pits in the new Mockton Colleries Unit, one of the largest in Yorkshire, from being closed are being considered by National Coal Board officials, trades union chiefs and workmen. The Coal Board has threatened to close the pits in July unless the men improve their output and reduce absenteeism. It has been estimated that there have been losses totalling £750 000 sterling The fault is not theirs. The pits are old and the losses are the result of bad planning over a long period and out of date equipment. A conference was planned to bring representatives of all sides together for a full and frank discussion on ways of improving the position at the pits. The Vicar of Royston. the Rev J. G. Seebold. in the morning service at the parish church before the conference. said: “Men matter more than money or coal. The money loss was only the cost of two big aeroffianes. the price of a very small warship or the transfer fees of 30 star footballers. Against that was set the wellbeing of the miners, their wives and families, the break up of the social life of the communities relying on the pits, and the break up of the whole economic life of the area.”