GETTING TIRED

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15976, 19 November 1919, Page 11

GETTING TIRED

OF ‘'‘‘GO SLOW” POLICY.

DISCUSSION AT HUNTLY,

HUNTLY, November 17

The question of the continuance of the “go-slow” policy was discussed at a special meeting of the Huntly Miners’ Union to-day. A motion to tho effect that a ballot be taken on the question of abandoning tho “go-slow” system was moved and seconded, but the chairman ruled that the motion was not in order, on the ground that the subject was a district matter, and not one for any individual union. There are four unions in the district, and it was ruled that the suggested ballot could only be taken by the direction of the district council, which consists of delegates appointed by each of the four unions. The motion therefore was not put to the vote.

It is stated that, there is considerable dissatisfaction anion," a large section of the miners in connection with the “go-slow” policy. Many of the men, particularly the more skilled miners, are chafing at the large sum that they have lost by the reduction of the output. A special cause of irritation appears to be in the fact that one party of truckers are earning more than 15s a day, which, was fixed as the standard wage under the “go-slow” system. Originally this party was earning 15s a day for each man, but one man left, and instead of the vacancy being filled the remaining members of the parly did extra work, with the result that their earnings were increased to hi a day. When a complaint was made by other workers the retort was that the additional earnings of these truckers did not, affect the purpose of the “go-slow” policy, which was intended, not necessarily to reduce earnings, but only to reduce coal production. The production, it was pointed out, was not in any way increased by the extra work done by the truckers when one of their number left. This statement of the position, of course, could not bo challenged, but the incident seems to have given rise to noth a little heart-burning.