PURPOSE: To reduce the shock of a pusher given to a rolled material, by computing the timing of starting the withdrawal of the pusher from the reversing speed of the material, in performing a rolling process with a plug mill, by withdrawing the pusher, and then, by stopping the traveling material after completing the speed up.

CONSTITUTION: A control circuit 23 gives an advancing speed reference 16 to a pusher through a pusher speed controller 18; after pushing a rolled material into a plug mill, a withdrawing speed reference 17 is given to the pusher which is then forded to stand at a stand-by position for stopping the traveling material. When the rolling process of the plug mill comes to its end point, the control circuit 23 begins to reversely feed the material by a reversing roll. The control circuit 23 gives a material stopping speed reference 26 to the pusher, and hereby the pusher again starts withdrawal, and travels from the stand-by position for stopping the material to the position wherein the speed up is completed. Meanwhile, the material, being reversely fed by the reversing roll, travels to the material stopping position wherein the material unites with the pusher. After a prescribed period of time, the control circuit 23 reduces the pressure the pressure of the pusher and stops it.