WORK STOPPED AT MINES

Southland Times, Issue 24648, 21 January 1942, Page 4

WORK STOPPED AT MINES

REPRESENTATIONS TO MINISTER

PRODUCTION TO RESUME TODAY

After being idle yesterday three mines in the Nightcaps district are expected to resume work today. The Linton, Wairaki ■and Mossbank mines, which employ approximately 300 men, are the ones concerned. The stoppage occurred when the men learned, on returning to work yesterday morning, that several of their colleagues had been, suspended for one week. The companies suspended the men when they ceased work on Monday afternoon some minutes before time. The companies had previously notified the miners that any instance of men working less than full shift time would be dealt with by suspension.

Representations were made by the Mine Owners’ Association to the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, yesterday. A reply was received last evening instructing the miners to resume work pending an inquiry, and it is expected that the miners will be working today. The association has agreed to give work as usual to the men who had been suspended. LOST PRODUCTION

When interviewed yesterday, Mr G. L. Cross, general manager of the Linton Coal Company, which controls the largest mine involved, said that the Southland coal companies had been much concerned for some considerable time about the short hours being worked by Southland miners and also by the use of a “darg”—a policy of restricted production. The agreement under which the men concerned were working prescribed eight hours a day for each shift. In some mines two shifts a day were being worked. Mr Cross claimed that for some time men on the day shift had been consistently knocking of early. On the night shift the average had been only 23 hours for the five-day week instead of the prescribed 40. In practice, the “darg” policy had meant that the miners had limited their output to only a certain number of boxes a day. These actions on the part of the miners had resulted in a great loss of potential production. Because of the general shortage of coal and the serious nature of the national situation, the coal-owners had thought it essential to obtain full working hours as set out in the agreement. To this end a letter was sent on January 9 to Mr A. V. Prendiville, secretary of the Nightcaps District Miners’ Union, referring to file policy of restricted output and stating that there was ample evidence of men knocking off each day before the completion of eight hours work and working only four to five hours a day on back shift.

The letter added that from January 19 mine managers had instructions that full time must be worked by all men, and if this was not adhered to disciplinary action would be taken. An assurance was sought that the “darg” would be abandoned.

Employees were also notified that those failing to work full time as set out in the agreement would, from Monday, January 19, be liable to suspension from work for one week, added Mr Cross. In some cases this notification was completely disregarded, with the result that a few men were suspended. When, on arriving at work yesterday morning, the men learned of the company’s action, they made no move to begin, but all went home. Inquiries made from the other companies concerned revealed the position was similar at the Wairaki ana Mossbank mines. The statements outlined above were confirmed.

UNION’S REPLY Mr Prendiville said that the men, in one mine had ceased work three minutes early and a ballot had been taken for those to be suspended. At another mine the men had knocked off seven minutes early, and seven had been selected for suspension irrespective of whether they had been first or last out of the mine. In the third mine the stoppage had been because of a domestic dispute. The miners concerned had asked the company to take it to the Disputes Committee and they would work on until it was settled. The manager had refused this request. When Mr Prendiville’s explanation was referred to him Mr Cross made the following statement; — , “The issues involved in this stoppage are simple, and are as follows; — (1) Are the men prepared to work the full hours as prescribed in the coal mines agreement? (2) Are the men prepared to abandon the ‘darg’ or restriction of output policy. There are no further issues. “The whole question does not involve a matter of minutes, as stated by Mr Prendiville, but rather is a question of some thousands of working hours which are lost annually as a result of employees not adhering to the agreement.” When this statement was referred to him Mr Prendiville said that at the Mossbank mine there had been no question of short hours. At 9.20 a.m. in one section of the mine a jig rope had broken, and a jig prop had broken at 11.30 a.m. For the men this had meant two hours work without pay. From 11.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. they received only three boxes. At 3 p.m. one man’s light had gone out, and his companion held a light while the last box was filled. They then finished where they had been working as a protest against the conditions, which were absolutely unsatisfactory. The men had been suspended for a week. Mr Prendiville had approached the manager and pointed out that the men had had reasonable grounds for coming out early. They were entitled to a dispute according to the agreement. The manager had refused to allow this, saying that he was acting under instructions.

Four other miners had worked on Monday without any complaints being made. None of them had complained of a shortage of production. At the Linton mine one of the workers suspended was a boy who had worked all day and also to 11.30 that night. The selection of the men had been arbitrary and a clear case of victimization. The men at Linton, he said, have to walk approximately one mile to their work. Nightcaps men actually worked a 10-hour day from the time they left home until they returned. Although the agreement said that the time was to be taken from bank to bank, the men were actually ready to go down the mine at 8 a.m. This meant that they made their preparations in their own time, when they were entitled by the agreement to prepare in the company’s time. WORKING CONDITIONS

Any restraint of production, Mr Prendiville said, was due to the inability of the company to supply enough boxes and to the conditions under which the majority were working. In one section of the Linton mine, two men had received their first box last Wednesday at 11.15 a.m. and on the previous Monday had received only seven boxes for the whole day. As far as the output of the district was concerned, the average was higher for each man employed than anywhere else in New Zealand, excqpt perhaps at one

or two mines. In some sections men got all the boxes they required, but only 3 per cent, of the men ever achieved the “darg” throughout the year. Last evening the Southland Coal Owners’ Association received the following telegram from the Mining Controller at Wellington:—

“I have just learned that the Linton, Wairaki and Mossbank mines were idle today owing to a dispute regarding time worked. I have no detailed information concerning the matter, but the stoppage of work impedes coal production which is vitally necessary to the war effort and cannot be countenanced any circumstances. The Government therefore instructs me to direct you to open the collieries for work tomorrow for all men on the conditions operating before the dispute. Please instruct colliery managers accordingly. The Government further instructs me to advise that it will set up a tribunal at the earliest possible date to arbitrate in matters in dispute." NEED FOR DISCIPLINE The association made the following reply:— “The mines were open for work today for all men other than 15 suspended for refusal to work full time. In view of the urgent necessity to maintain the maximum production, which is fully recognized by the owners and which they are endeavouring to secure, the owners willingly agree to open the mines tomorrow to all men, including those under suspension on the terms contained in the agreement and particularly on the understanding that full time will be worked by all and that the restriction of output will cease. The companies must, however, insist upon the retention by them and the exercise by them in proper cases of their right to take disciplinary action with their employees in order to ensure full time being worked and maximum output obtained. This must include the right to suspend men who refuse to work full time or to obey officials’ instructions. The companies desire a full inquiry at the earliest possible moment.”

Mr Prendiville stated last night that the miners would resume work today.