COAL DEADLOCK.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16045, 9 February 1920, Page 6

COAL DEADLOCK.

THE POSITION BBTIKWED BY COAL-OWNERS’ EXECUTIVE. The executive of the New Zealand Coal Mine-Owners Association met in Wellington on Wednesday, and decided to issue a statement with regard to the present position in connection with the deadlock in the coal mines; — : It will be remembered that a lengthy conference was held in August last when the coal mine-owners, although they could not agree to consider a Dominion agreement, owing to the varying condition in the different mines, offered to meet the individual Unions to deal with the local conditions of work, and offered a further bonus of 10 per cent, to contract workers and 15 per cent, to wages men, making in. all total increases during the war period of 35 per cent, to contract workers, and 45 per cent, to wages men. 150,000 TONS LOST BY GO-SLOW. The employers’ offer was rejected by the Federation, which apparently then handed the whole- of its interests and the interests of its members over to the Alliance of Labour, as since that time whenever overtures have been made by this Association to the Miners’ Federation with the purpose of arranging for conferences with the Miners’ Unions, this Association has been referred to the Alliance of Labour. While the Coal Mine-Owners’ Association is prepared to negotiate with the Miners’ Federation to arrange for conferences with local Unions, it definitely declines to recognise any outside body as one with which negotiations should be carried on. Following the Miners’ Federation rejection of the coal mine-owners’ offer, the “go-slow” policy was decided upon by the Federation, and has been in operation for a period of five months. The results of the operation of that system are that the reduction in the output has amounted to at least 150,000 tons in that period, and that the miners have voluntarily reduced their earnings from an average of approximately 22s per day to about 16s per day. 15s A DAY AS AGAINST 255. That being the case, it is evident that not only have the public suffered very considerably as the result of the shortake in the coal supply, in that not only have the people had difficulty in securing supplies, but they have had to pay high prices which would not have been necessary if the normal output had been maintained, but the fact that earnings have been restricted to 15s per day for such a lengthened period apparently implies that this amount is a living wage, and that the offer of the employers which would enable an average of 25s per day to be earned a more than liberal one. With regard to the present earnings of miners, as 'referred to Mr Arbus» kle in the Press recently, it has ,to he said that the coal mine-owners cannot accept any responsibility therefor while the “go-slow”' policy is in operation. WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. As indicating the rates of pay which would have been earned since August last if the mine-owners offer had been accepted, the following extract from information given to the conference by Mr T. 0. Bishop (acting under-secretary of the Mines Department) is quoted: Miners’ average, 25s per day. Truckers and horse-drivers, 15s 2d per shift. Tippers and Lamp Trimmers, 14s 6d per shift. Carpenters and Blacksmiths, 16s 3d per shift. Yardsmen, outside workers, and tool sharpeners, 15s per shift. Thus, if nine shifts per fortnight are worked, as stated by Mr Arbuckle, miners would have been earning £ll 5s per fortnight, or .£5 12s 6d pier week; shift-workers from £6 10s 6d per fortnight (or £3 5s 3d per week) to £7 7s 9d per fortnight (or £3 13s 101 d per week). If, however, the full time available (11 shifts per fortnight) were worked, the whole earnings would be proportionately increased. THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF WAGES LOST. The actual position, therefore, is that the mine-owners have been prepared at any time since the conference to pay the increased rates immediatenormal operations were resumed, and to meet their own Unions as hitherto, to discuss conditions of work as applicable to each individual mine. Instead of accepting the mine-owners’ offer, the Federation has caused the miners to earn thousands of pounds less in wages than they could have earned, and by its action has seriously hampered the industries of the country, and, besides causing a shortage in domestic supplies, has compelled the general public to pay higher prices for coal than it should have done. It should be noted that in the last offer made to the Federation, the coal-mine-owners refrained from making the stipulation that normal operations should be resumed before any conference with a Union took place. This was done in the belief that if the representaives of the various mining companies were able to meet the representatives of their own Unions, agreements would b© arranged without much trouble or delay. The executive of the Association would therefore urge upon the Federation executive to now agree that conferences with the individual Unions should be. arranged as early as possible, in which case no exception would be taken to a representative of the Federation executive attending such conference and acting as one of the delegates.