THE WAIHI COMPANY'S DISMISSALS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 51, 1 March 1901, Page 8

THE WAIHI COMPANY'S DISMISSALS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

I WELLINGTON, Thursday, j The Government have received from | Mr Charles Molloy, secretary oE the Waihi Miners' Union, a statement of the facts in connection with the action of the Waihi Gold Mining- Company in dismissing- Union officers. The Premier has sent a copy of the statement to the company. When a reply is received the matter will be considered by the Cabinet. WAIHT, Thursday. : ftVjtn regard to the approved scale of WU'-es passed by thfi Executive of the Thames Miners' Union, and issued to the varioifs gold mining- companies in Waihi, it is only fair to the miners' OJi Waihi, to point out their claims as affecting such, and the original cause of the present' trouble. It was re-poi-ted to the Union that the usual Uiours of labour, constituting- the re-cog-nised "shifts" were-not being observed in the Waihi-Union mine, as regards wet shafts. The Union thereupon requested the mine manager to observe the six hour shift custom, because the shaft was a wet one. The matter was referred to the manager, ■who replied that he could not observe the six hour shifts, but so long as the ■steam pump was in the Union shaft, he would observe the said hours of shift. This, qf course, was not satisfactory, and the Union, also considering that the men were under-paid in many instances, and that in consequence of the •increased cost of living in Waihi, they were satisfied that a proper scale of wages, etc., should be adopted, decided to site all the mining companies in Waihi before the Conciliation Board, in case their demands were not complied with. The demands set' forth in the schedule, regarding overtime, hours of labour, employment of Jx/vh, Sunday work and overtime, Union members, and contract work n;<- muttmrx at (,'reat importance: es■•pmfailiy that of the contract system, >vAu<:'Ji )>> generally admitted to be a /:-<jrs,K t<j tiiM miner and business man. Th* m'mftt* have other grievances wh'M'M 4fumsiii attention and fair con-Ktiii-j-ytioji. As fegAnl* t)>e unKecurity </ f ii:u4 iMiwir*, ihey :>i'*' buttcttctl pv>u' .irv.ui \/>}hr Ui pont; Ui'-,y have iio ;ii'>,«*i-*'» ~'i.v,f <■»>} tin*y make on*. • rJ.ii( 3 y U-,i.».' inti.c ax no ji^Jii, umi very •i&qt. ¥~<:.. §&$$ .Ui^>; u 4 sstemvi\f>A'4*. U>r chf ' iAfH-Xiyry.cii JOv^U^'t:" M<i \ : *'u{Hi: ■;»;»•*;- >'■ 'S ..Smy.l ; H;i,M[W ; %}/ 1 } wr\