THE COAL-MINERS DIFFICULTY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9116, 23 December 1907, Page 1

THE COAL-MINERS DIFFICULTY.

4 BANK TO BANK. INTERVIEW WITH MR R. M'KENZIE. [FltOM OtTK CORKESPONDBNT.] WELLINGTON, December 22. Mr Roderick M'Kenzie, Chairman of Committees of the House of Representatives, -who is at present in Wellington, and who, as an old West Coaster, is thoroughly familiar with mining matters on the Coast, interviewed last night by a "Times" reporter on this question, said: — "There was a bank-to-bank clause passed in the Act of j 1903 dealing with" quartz and coalmining. At that time there was an award in force in regard to the Westport mines, and the Arbitration Court refused repeatedly to make a new award. If a new award were made this bank-to-bank clause would apply, and the men would have to work under it, but so long as they continue /o work under the present award, which was originally, 1 think, supposed to have a term of two years, of course the new statute law cannot apply. Last session, with the deliberate intention of overriding that award, this clause was passed. It was done intentionally. I know the men well. Their feeling now is that they have a longstanding grievance. Nearly every goldmine in the State has been working under the bank-to-banli clause for throe or four years, and the two State coalmines have been working under it ever since they started. We have been fighting for the general application of this bank-to-bank clause for the last ten years. The coalmine proprietors in this ease don't see their way to grant an eight hours day, which is really the effect of the clause. What tlie men reckon should count in the eight hours is the time they enter the tunnel until they come out again. Before a man's time starts he has to get to the working faces. Some of these tunnels at Denniston axe about two miles long or more. It is not so much of material consequence to the coalmine proprietors, because all the coal is newn at so much per ton, and not by day 'wages, though, of course, the Westport CoaJ Company has a large staff of men to whom day wages are paid." . , ,„„ "How many men are affected r" "I should say at Denniston,'' replied Mr M'Kenssie, " about seven hundred men and boys. There are about an equal number at Granity, where, however I notice these men are working under a mutual arrangement. The Arbitration Court has created this position by refusing to make a fresh award. It ought to have made a new award about fcmr years ago. Since the 1903 Act was passed the coalminers of Denniston applied for a r^w award, but ;

were refused. It has been modified, but no fresh award has been 'granted. It has been said that the present award expire* in February next, and, therefore, I don't think the men will do anything rash, although they recognise that they have a very legitimate grievance all the same, but their grievance is against the Court and not . against the Westport Coal Company, which is looked upon by the men as being amongst the best employers in New Zealand. " It is generally contended that men Working in coal mines are engaged in a most unhealthy class of work, and those iamiliar with the conditions of work-in coal mines consider that about six hours are quite long enough for * man to be underground. At any rate. I can't see what good a strike woul£ do if the award expires in February, as that would only aggravate the position, rhe Minister of Labour certainly knew the intentions of Parliament when, the clause was passed as well as anyone else, rhere-as no doubt the Minister is popular with the miners, and I cannot understand his attitude when he says the award, must stand. Of course, if there is a legal flaw in the clause as passed by Parliament, then the award will have to remain. The late- Premier, Mr Seddon, and myself often discussed this matter in the House I don't recollect any reason being given by the Court when it refused to make a fresh award. It simply allowed the okl award togoW continuously "