MOUNT MORGAN DISPUTE

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16596, 12 September 1925, Page 7

MOUNT MORGAN DISPUTE

CASE FOR THE MEN.

DEFINITE DECLARATION SOUGHT.

CONCERNING COMPANY'S POLICY

(United Press Association.) Received September 12, 10.20 a.m BRISBANE, Sept. 12

The Home Secretary, Alt’. Stopford, in a statement as member for Mount Mprgan. said that what the men desired was some definite declaration of policy respecting Hie company’s intentions, so that they would know exactly what to do. The trouble had been simmering ever since 1021, when a 20 per cent, reduction in wages was made. It was pretty safe to say that with broken time, lost time and holidays the average wage of a surface man would be about £0 per fortnight. In addition it had been the policy of the company for some years to threaten to close the works, and the men had become exasperated. He did not think Ihe men objected to the closing of the mine, but wanted a definite declaration of the company’s policy. Mount Morgan was a community where the men owned their own homes and the uncertainty was depreciating the value of these, until now a home, which before the reduction in wages was worth £2OO would not realise. £l5O.

There were, added Mr. Stopford, 1300 men directly concerned in the lock-out and every section of the workers was solid. Como a Bit Closer.

It is stated that Mr. Rymer, State president of the Australian Railways Union, has wired to the leader at the Mount Morgan works to inform Mr. Stopford that the railwaymen are behind Ihe Mount Morgan workers regarding the 44 hours week and living wage.

Commenting on this, Mr. Stopford said there was no need to inform him that Hie railwaymen were behind the Mount Morgan workers. They had always been behind them, especially in 1921, when they were so far behind them that when the Mount Morgan men were fighting against the first wage reduction 18,000 railwaymen contributed only £9O in a year. This time, he hoped, the railwaymen would come a bit closer.. He suggested that they should levy on th'emselves to the extent of 2s weekly and then possibly their past neglect might he forgotten.