THE MINERS’ DIFFICULTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2386, 30 December 1908, Page 5

THE MINERS’ DIFFICULTY.

QUESTION

THE MEDICAL EXAMINATION

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER

OF LABOR

[Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, Dec. 29. Referring to the threatened trouble between miners and their employers owing to the new legislation giving compensation for disablement through the “miners’ complaint,” the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister of Labor, states the Government crnnot do anything in the matter. There is the law; the insurance companies declined to carry the risk. It was never intended that the Act should be retrospective. The premiums for insurance which are paid by the ,mine owners will probably be very heavy. It is purely a question between the owners and the men. The Government can do nothing. Toe Act isavs that this is a disease for which compensation can be claimed, and nothing can bo done without the authority of Parliament. The insurance companies say that theexteu: of the risk is unknown, anv until they can ascertain the extent to which it affects the mining community, they -cannot insure against it. In fact, it has been calculated, although of course it is pure assumption, that in the W aihi mine alone the risk involved would amount to a quarter of a million, and ( insurance companies are not going blinds to enter on a risk of that magnitude The only thing that can be done is to come to rmutual arrangement between the men and owners, a temper my arrangement until Parliament can deal with the matter, or a permanent .agreement. The Act anti ciliated that cases would arise vner® men would be debarred from geAm employment unless thej could, con tract themselves eat of Us h™vis»ns euft he done but Jt [ho Cteg from the disease '%° l ) tll 4 t le l1 to a clah? U compesatiou. nary every man v.l o goes mto^ SSIM b. entitled to , Se'euse 1 oov other, part of the the case Great Britain they were afraid to include this disease, owing difficulty , )f v difficulty until the matter can be dealt with by 1 ailiament.

telegraphic correspondence.

premier \nd president of MINERS- FEDERATION.

WELLINGTON. Dec. 29. The following telegrams hare parsed between Sir Joseph A\ ard and lir U Semple, President of the Miners Federation ST Heefton : From Mr Semple to Sir Joseph. Ward

jl 1 " l &&s meeting of Reeftou goldtims 24th, when it was uiiauii*.vui.J r^a P??^. l s-. resist the proposed medical examination. The companies are equally determined to enforce the same. All probabilities of industrial conflict. Six hundred miners affected. Can von suggest way out of the difficulty.'

From Sir Joseph Ward to Mr Semple : ' - . In replv to your telegram or yesterday I have been making all inquiries with the object or trying to effect some settlement of this difficulty in question, but find it almost impossible without Parliament's sanction. The liability of miners' phthisis was thrown on the Mine owners by Parliament. but the position is that the insurance companies decline to accept any risks without examination] on the grounds tint the extent o£ the disease is unknown, and that tliev therefore have no other means of ascertaining the risk which they are asked to carry. This ■ question does not affect Peel ton alone. It applies to all miners in Mew Zealand, and the liability involved is, very "■rent. Without examination it ns impossible to ■ ascertain wh.it really would be the responsibility and it, therefore, appears to mo that, in their own interests, the miners would do well 'to allow the examination to take place. This would afford the necessary information requisite to consider the whole position, so that, if necessary, the Government would bo in a position to place the question before Parliament and aUm Parliament an opportunity afsiuai what can be done. 1 regret that as far ,as one can see, we have no pouei to go further than this, and 1 trusu that you will endeavor to induce the miners to accept the examination, and thus enable a temporary settlement. at any rate, to be arrived a. It can only be one examination, bec i use if a man has not got the disease at the present time and goes back to work in.tbe mine, any development thereafter entitles him to compensation. 1 am anxious to help tho miners, but they, with you,jull see that the position is an exceeding! v difficult one.