New Guinea

Miners’ Strike in New Guinea Hint That Co. May Cease Operations

From Our Own Correspondent WAU, April 4.

THE underground miners employed by New Guinea Goldfields Ltd. are on strike, and have brought a large number of alluvial miners out with them. The strike commenced to take shape on March 14 at Golden Ridges and spread to Edie Creek.

Apart from contract work, on which many of these miners are engaged and which provides a handsome return to them, tne rate of pay under which the men are engaged, and under which they agree to work on taking up their jobs, is 25/- per shift of seven shifts a week.

The two main demands of the men appear to be an increase of 5/- per shift and a 44-hours week. There are appar ently other demands and alleged griev ances, which have not been made public.

In addition to any pay, either by wages or contract, which the men re ceive, they are housed free and receive free electric light, in addition to other concessions.

It must be said, in fairness, that there are a large number of the miners whose hearts are not in the strike; but the fear of being called “scabs” and so forth has been sufficient to make them throw in their lots with a minority of malcon tents.

A simple arithmetical reckoning will show that with an increase of 5/- per shift, and a 44-hours week, the men would be 10/- per week worse off than they are under present conditions.

All efforts at a settlement have failed, including a visit by the Administrator (Sir Walter McNicoll) who interviewed the men. The whole of the underground workings of New Guinea Goldfields Ltd. are idle, the safety men have been with drawn, and the mines are in a fair way to becoming a write-off.

The fact that the alluvial miners, who have no grievance whatever, have been brought out in sympathy with the other miners, shows how completely the men’s leaders have failed to appreciate the situation. It is quite on the cards that the interests which control NGG, who never have been very enthusiastic about the New Guinea field, will take this opportunity of “writing-off” NGG alto gether.

It is likely, if the strike does not soon end, that the directors will dismiss the whole staff, and close down temporarily, pending the organisation of a new staff.

NGG employees are the foundation of much of Wau’s trade, and commercial interests will be struck a severe blow through any long strike, or closing-down of the mines.

And what will be the Administration’s attitude towards the presence, for any length of time, of these men and their families in the Territory? It is obvious that they cannot be allowed to remain in the Territory with no visible means of support.

It is fortunate that the Co. concerned has sufficient staff men to carry on the alluvial workings and thus maintain a certain output of gold.

The Co. has taken no action regarding the strikers’ continued occupation of their free houses. About 40 per cent, of the men on strike are married.

It is just possible that the Common

wealth may intervene. It is vital to Australia’s war effort that the produc tion of gold shall continue.

Case For The Men

The Morobe Goldfields strike was re ferred to in the Commonwealth Parlia ment on March 25 by Mr. Ward, who said the men had adopted this method of directing attention to certain disabili ties under which they work. They had been told that the conditions of their employment in New Guinea would be similar to those on the mining fields in Australia. They were promised 25/- a shift, and, if they worked on contract, which was optional, up to 30/- a shift.

They found the conditions entirely dif ferent from those in Australia. Numer ous accidents had happened. The men were working with obsolete machinery, and the dust menace in the mines had reached serious proportions.

“The timbering of the mines, done in softwood, is entirely unsatisfactory; many of the mines are in danger of col lapse. In one case the only entrance to one mine collapsed, and great difficulty was experienced in digging out the men entombed. In addition, no facilities are provided for rescue work, and no first aid kits are available at many of the mines. These conditions apply particu larly to the mines at Anderson’s Creek and at the Upper Ridges.

“The men ask that an inspection be made of the mines immediately, and that every protection be given to enable them to work in safety.

“They also complain that when en gaged on contract work they are often robbed by those in charge of the mines.

It appears that natives are employed to count the trucks, the men being paid on a tonnage basis. However, in February, in one instance, a difference of 150 tons

was found between the mill return and the men’s check. The men also ask, therefore, that a weigh-bridge be instal led in order to afford them protection against exploitation in this way, “They also ask for a minimum wage of 30/- a shift and one day’s holiday a month, and for the payment of overtime (which is now paid for at ordinary rates) at time and a half. This is necessary, as the cost of living is approximately 30 per cent, higher than in Australia. They also request that suitable sheds and accom modation, ample supplies of drinking water and sanitary conveniences be pro vided at every level in the mines.

“These men have repeatedly brought their complaints under the notice of the company, but so far no effort has been made to rectify any of their grievances.

Consequently they have now ceased work.”

The Government made no reply to Mr.

Ward’s statement. It is understood that it regards its powers, in relation to New Guinea, as too limited to allow it to do anything.