WESTPORT MINERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 137, 12 June 1931, Page 3

WESTPORT MINERS

POLICE READY FOR ACTION Police leinforcements have arrived i«l I the Westport district iu order to deal with any trouble that mny eventuate from coal miners’ opposition to wage reductions, th<‘ tribute -ysiem, and some aspects of the unemployment Icvv. The determination of the Charming ( reck < oal Companj’ to work tho mine I on the tribute system has led to strong I pidicj- reinforcements being brought te I Westport. The tribute men had to | leave the mine recently owing to a i demonstration by close on 10(10 union i miners. Later in tho day the men and a handful of police were attacked in th.* Ngakuwau Hotel, and as a result the tribute men had to leave the dis* tricl immediately. Police reinforce* meuts from Auckland to Dunedin wore called on, and there are now about. 40 extra constables, an inspector, aud three sergeants in the district. I’mler the tribute system tho workers lease a piece of ground from the owners and work it themselves, the owners paying them an agreed rate a ton. for the coal produced. The men are independent so long as they observe the mining regulations, and are not subject to any union conditions—a state lined on charges of intimidation, and .Vs the result of the fracas four men, alleged to be the ring-leaders, were of affairs to which the unionists object, several others on minor charges. Fur* ther trouble in the mining industry if expected owing to the refusal of th< unions to pay tho unemployment levy, therein laying themselves open to pro sccutioii <>r dismissal by tho company