SMALLER BAGS OF COAL

Southland Times, Issue 23332, 16 October 1937, Page 6

SMALLER BAGS OF COAL

NEW REGULATION IN CHRISTCHURCH NO ADVICE RECEIVED IN INVERCARGILL New regulations restricting the weight of sacks of coal to 1401 b, instead of 1871 b, as at present, have been in operation in Christchurch for the past week. Christchurch dealers have agreed to the alteration in the weights because of injurious effects on the health of men forced to carry the . heavier bags. A readjustment of prices has been made to meet the alterations in weight. Sacks which formerly cost 5/9 and 6/3 will now be sold at 4/7 and 4/11 respectively. Invercargill coal merchants and carriers who were interviewed yesterday said they had heard nothing of the new regulations which, it is said, will shortly be gazetted by the Government. The change, which will mean an increase in the number of bags to the ton, will probably mean an increase in PT*_ ce because of the extra handling entailed. It has been the practice in Wellington and Dunedin to deliver coal in hundredweight bags only, but in Invercargill, Auckland and Christchurch the weight of bags has been 1871 b. In winter time the weight of the sack alone is often increased by five pounds or six pounds by rain. Drivers m northern centres consider that 1401 b is a reasonable weight for a normal man to carry, especially as he is sometimes forced to take his load up steep and narrow steps or into difficult places. Under the drivers’ award Invercargill coal merchants have to pay’ a penny extra a ton of coal delivered when the bags weigh more than 1801 b. This means about 2/6 extra a week to drivers. NO ALTERATION WANTED Commenting upon the regulations adopted in Christchurch one Invercargill merchant said that no alteration of the conditions, either by employer or employee, was wanted in the south. “We are quite satisfied to go on as we are at present,” he said. “Carriers are not afraid to carry a decent bag of coal, and really prefer to make 12 trips to the ton with the 1871 b bag than 14 trips with a 1401 b bag.” Another merchant declared that it was far better to carry a load of 12 bags on the flat. It was not a hardship for the average coal carrier to carry 1871 b bags. “It is a local agreement,” said a union secretary. “Although there will probably be new regulations governing conditions for coal-yard employees and the size of bags, we have no knowledge of it in Southland. Here there is an agreement between the employers and the drivers, which provides for the extra penny a ton on all bags weighing over 1801 b.”

Invercargill merchants have not heard of any move for a five-day week, but the union secretary said that at the expiration of the present awards there would be an application for a five-day week. In Christchurch the five-day week is in operation and until March 31 no coal will be delivered in Christchurch on Saturdays, no matter how urgent the order may be. “The five-day week can be worked in the summer time in Invercargill, but I cannot see it working during the winter,” said a dealer. “The men would be run off their legs, and half Invercargill would be without coal during week-ends.”