CONCILIATION BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 299, 17 December 1900, Page 5

CONCILIATION BOARD.

COAL MINERS' DISPUTE

THE RECOMMENDATIONS

The following was filed at the Supreme Court to-day by the Eev. A. H. Collins, chairman of the Conciliation Board:

Under the "Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1900." Before the Board of Conciliation, in the Northern Industrial District. In the matter of an industrial dispute between, the Ilikurangi Coal Company and others and the Ilikurangi Coal Miners' Industrial Union of Workers, and of a reference thereof for settlement. The Board, having examined witnesses and heard evidence in the above case, recommend as follows:

Clause I.—That the hours of labour for all underground workers in the Ilikurangi Coal Company shall be as follows: That the men leave the surface at 7.45 a.m., and leave the face at 4 p.m.. and at 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

That the hours of labour for all underground workers in the Hikurangi Collieries, Limited, be as follows: That the men leave the surface at 6.45 a.m., and leave the face at 3 p.m., and at 2.30 p.m. on Saturdays. • That in the case of the Ngunguru Coal Alines, Limited, and the Kiripaka Coal Company, Limited, the hours of labour for all underground workers shall not exceed 47 hours per week, but that, the hours of commencing and leaving off work may be varied to suit the special local circumstances. Clause IL—That the places be drawn for every three months in the following order: The manager to divide the mine into districts and number the places, in each district, in consecutive order, the man drawing the last or highest number in any district must be the first to shift from that district. If there be more than one man to shift from any district at one time, they cavil for the fresh places, the truckers to cavil for places the same time as general cavil.

Clause lll.—Should the manager have any special work inside the mine he must call for volunteers to be approved by the manager three clear d:avs before a cavil.

Clause IV. —That should the manager require to double shift any bord the man in the bord to choose his mate within two days after having notice from the manager; and should he fail to find a mate in the given time, then the manager shall find one. The men to receive Id per ship extra for being double shifted. If two men be put in a bord they be paid Id per ski]) extra. If a heading be double shifted there shall be an addition lo the extra tonnage of (id per foot. This clause to apply to-the Ilikurangi Coal Company, but shall not apply to the Hikurangi Collieries, Limited, the Ngunguru Coal Mines Limited or the Kiripaka Codl Company, Limited. Clause V. —That -trucking in the Ilikurangi Coal Company ami the Hikurangi Collieries be done by the Companies, and that in the cases of the Ngunguru Coal Mines and the Kiripaka Coal Company, the trucking be done by the miners as at present; such trucking- not to exceed the present limit of fifty yards from the face, over fifty yards to be paid Id per skip for every additional 50 yards.

Clause Vl.—That in the Hikurangi Coal Company's mine the men receive 1/ per* ship for steam coal: 1/4 per skip for house coal; 4d per foot for cross cuts and headings, 8 feet wide and over: uniT S feet wide, irrespective of height, if per foot: under G feet high irrespective of width. 1/ per foot: taking off side coal up to 3 feet, (id per foot; wet work 2d per skip extra.' That in the Hikurangi Collieries, Limited, the men receive lOd per skip, without any allowance for yardage, i That in the Ngunguru Coal Mines the \ men receive as follows: — Low coal over •_ feet, 11 d per skip. Low coal over 4.1 to 4 feet, 1/1 per skip. Low coal over 4 to 31 feet, 1/2 per skip. Low coal over 31 to 3 feet, 1/3 per skip. Low coal,over 3 to 2-Jfeet, 1/4 per skip. Low coal over 2_ to 2 feet, 1/G per skip. Yardage to be paid as at*present rates, viz.: 8d per foot.-for 8 feet wide. 1/4 per foot for G feet wide. Timbering to be done by miners as at present, viz.: no charge to be made. In the event of the Company coming up high seam coal, viz., 7 feet and upwards, the same conditions- shall apply as in the Kiripaka Coal Company's mine. That in the Kiripaka Coal Company's mine the men receive lOd per skip. Headings eight feet wide and lover to be paid 4d per foot; under six feet high, irrespective of width, 1/ per foot; taking off side coal up to three feet, Gd per foot. In the event of the company coming upon low seam coal —viz., four feet six inches and under — the same conditions shall apply as in the Ngunguru coal mines. Clause VII. —That when men leave the face, or are taken from the face,, their turn ceases. If a miner be taken from the coal by the manager to do any kind of lodd work.he be paid at the rate of 9/ per daj-, and time and. a quarter overtime, and time and a half for Sundays for all men except pumpers. Clause Vlll.—That in the Ilikurangi Coal Company's mine timbering be paid for as follows: Props up to eight feet, Gd each; over that height, one penny per fo.ot; the company to timber safely in all pillars before beginning to extract them; miners to timber in pillar workings without cost to the company. Clause IN.—That all unsaleable coal and mullock filled in or, thrown back, the following rates obtain, viz., tho Hikurangi Coal' Company, 1/ per skip; the Ilikurangi Colliers, lOd per skip; Ngunguru Coal mine, lOd per skip; tliG Kiripaka Coal mine, lOd per skip. Clause N. —That the companies lay all roads and sharpen all miners' tools. Clause XL—That truckers be paid 7/6 per day; pumpers to-receive 7/6 per day, arid 9/ per shift on Sundays; boys up to IS years of age to be paid from 4/ to 7/ per day. Clause NlL—Thatanyminers driving to the dip and having to bale water be paid 1/3 per hour.

! Clause Xlll.—That boring up ot down be paid at the rate of 3d per foot, the company to have the option of doing the work wilh wages men. Clause XlV.—That the company find suitable material for tamping. Clause XV. —That Employers shall employ members of the Workers' Union" in preference to non-members, provided that there are members of the Workers' Union equally qualified with non-members to perform Ihe particular work required to be done and ready and willing to undertake it. But this clause shall not interfere with the employment of the workmen now engaged by any of the companies, whilst remaining in their present employment. Clause XVl.—That in the event of; shortening hands, single men shall be first discharged in the order of engagement and then last comers. : Clause- XVII.—The skips referred to in these. recommendations are estimated to be of the following capacity: Hikurangi Coal Company, 12 cwt.; Ilikurangi Collieries, 12 cwt.; Kiripaka Coal Company, 10 cwt.; Ngunguru Coal Mines, S?> cwt. Clause XVIII.—That this Industrial Agreement shall come into operation on the first day of February, 1901, and shall remain in force until the thirty-first day of January. 1904. A. H. COLLINS, Chairman. Court House, Hikurangi, December 14, 1900. We, the undersigned, parties to the dispute between the Hikurangi Coal Company and others, and the Hikurangi Coal Alines Industrial Union of Workers, hereby agree to accept the recommendations of the Conciliation Board for the Northern Industrial District. Dated this 14th day of December, 1900, at Hikurangi Court-house. For the Ilikurangi Coal Company, Limited, H. GILFILLAN, JUN., Secretary. For the Ngunguru Coal Mines, Limited, E. FORD, Secretary. For the Ilikurangi Coal Alines Industrial Union of Workers, J. H. JOHNSON. H. HOLTON. F. WHIDDON. Witness to the above signatures, A. H. COLLINS, Chairman of the Conciliation Board. For the Hikurangi Collieries, Limited. 11. R; COOKE, Director. Witness of the above signature, A. 11. COLLINS, Chairman of the Conciliation Board.