THE MINERS' DISPUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 131, 4 June 1901, Page 3

THE MINERS' DISPUTE.

CONCILIATION BOARD PROCEEDINGS.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent)

WAIHI, Monday.

The Board resumed its sitting at 11.30 o'clock this morning, there being a full attendance.

K. S. Ready, examined by Mr Tunks, deposed that he was a draper. During the last two yoars there had been no general increase in pricos. There were some lines cheaper now than formerly. These lines wore of importance to minors. He .should say that prices of drapers* all round were about normal.

By Mr Drumm: The wholesale prices of cotton goods had increased about 15 por cent, during the last five years. There had been a rise in woollen goods, but the prices had gone back during the past four months. Rents of shops were fairly high.

By Mr Morgan: He was a member of a Friendly Society of which workers in dry crushing batteries were debarred from becoming members.

By Mr Tunks: A wholesale rise did not always affect retail prices of goods.

.James Murphy, examined by Mr Rhodes, deposed that he was battery foreman in a dry crushing mill. He had been working ten or eleven years, and he did not think he felt any serious injury from working there. It depended on a "'-mi's constitution. During his ten yecL -.ie had done a great deal of Sunday work. He expected to do Sunday work. There were only a few who worked on Sundays. Repairs which were done on Sundays could not be done on week days. In a dry crushing battery there was great danger attached to repairing on week day., when the battery was in motion. He would sooner do repairs at half pay on Sunday than run the risk during the week. The gear of a battery could not always be repaired the moment it was required. His life was insured, and he had not been loaded because of working in dust. With regard to Robinson's evidence as to only having two or three Sundays off during eighteen months, according to witness' time-books Robinson had 14 clear Sundays off. He had not kept, timebooks himself during all that period, but mfen wore paid according to them. He was the employer of the last witness.

WAIHI, this day

At the Conciliation Board yesterday the witness Murphy, continuing evidence, deposed that he never heard anything about terrorism or boycott during his term in Waihi as relating to the Waihi Co.

By Mr Morgan: Witness was not aware that his brother had to leave the battery on account of dust, and did not know that he was suffering from the effects of dust. He had gone a trip to Sydney because lie was run down in health.

By .Mr Drumm: There were less hands working on Sundays than previously. It was possible to do some of the repairs during week days. It was not the rule to keep men in one position .all the time. They were s-hifted about. He bad no reason to doubt the statement that certain able bodied men had died through the effects of dust.

By the Chairman: There were about 55 men working in the battery, and about _.-> to 30 were affected by dust, including three shifts.

By Mr Lucas: Witness had applied to join the Oddfellows' Friendly Society, but was not admitted, being fold to apply again in six months for medical examination.

Mr Rhodes stated this was their last witness.

Mr Morgan stated be wished to call rebutting evidence.

Tho chairman then called on employers to sum up their evidence.

Mr !_. Bell, representing the Imperial, Waihi Consols, New Whau. Chelmsford, and Bunker Companies, stated that the mining industry was a very complex one, therefore it was necessary that goodwill of both employers and employees should exist, fie pointed out that this dispute was not a question merely of Miners' Union versus Waihi Co., but one of Union versus the whole of industry. Out of 47 Companies cited before the Hoard there were only four paving properties. His Company had paid some £50.000 on this industry. An immense number of people depended on the mining industry, and there were many places lying in close connection with mining centres which were all affected by it. The present remuneration paid by mining companies was all that they could now stand, as there had been a great paucity of dividends. Referring to census returns of Obinemuri County, Mr Hell said tbe great increase of people showed the immense importance of the mining industry. Mr Hell submitted that the evidence produced did not prove mining was unhealthy.'' Miners also compared favourably as regards pay with other trades, and in comparison to Government pay on railways, etc., which was 7/. a day, and tin; miners did not lose time from weather, nor had broken time as Government employees* had. The pay of mining industry -was so good and so attractive was the industry generally .hat mining centres were continually drawing on other districts. That fact could not be refuted. There were numbers only too willing to. participate in the advantages of tho mining industry. He thought that miners should keep as far as possible from bringing the arm of tbe law into these questions of dispute. As regards boy labour*Mr Bell submitted it was a free country, and if any law were laid down influencing the employment of boys in mines, a considerable percentage of boys would be absolutely debarred from earning a living. The law had no right to debar or restrict right of one individual to the detriment of others. In conclusion Mr Bell submitted that the Board should hesitate to disturb the present conditions of the mining industry.

Mr Daw, manager of the N.Z. Crown Mines, then addressed the Board. lie said he was sorry that MiRhodes' application that the whole of the companies of the Hauraki Peninsula should be cited had been granted, as it made other companies parties to the dispute, and had put them to considerable inconvenience, and had meant withdrawal from their duties of managers, mining engineers, etc., and also causing a feeling of unrest amongst employers never before experienced in the North Island. He thought that no matter what the award of the Board would be, the Union's procedure in connection with the dispute had affected New Zealand so that it would not be considered a safe place for the outlay of capital. Mr Daw said he failed to see that Mr

Drumm bad laid any evidence before the Board to warrant a rise of wages or any change in the. conditions in or about a mine. Mr Daw then reviewed at length all the evidence given by Waihi, Paeroa, and Thames witnesses. Most of the Waihi witnesses, he submitted, had stated that they bad no complaints as regards treatment of management, or of the mine. He also pointed out that when ore value was under 30/ per ton, it was not payable. There were, many liabilities which companies had to meet, and if this was exceeded, then there was nothing for it but to shut down. He submitted that a contract was a mutual agreement between a company and a contractor. Regarding tbo cost of living, he was satisfied, from the evidence, that was not greater now than some, time back. If the Union's demands woro granted, greater damage would result in tbe case of the N.Z. Crown Mines' property and other companies. It would not pay to work the Crown Mines und.er any other system than contract. The workings were so extensive that it would require a large staff of foremen. Strict economy had to be observed as to working this mine. Mr Daw pointed out that the wages paid by mining companies were regarded as almost a certainty, but the profits to those companies were doubtful. He contended that perfect freedom of contract should exist, but if anything like coercion of conditions respecting mining industry existed, capitalists would not come or stay. As far as Karangahake was concerned, he submitted no witnesses had been called to establish the evidence given by Mr O'Keefe at tlie Thames. In conclusion, he submitted that the Miners' Union were making serious demands on a struggling industry, whicb,_ if granted, would probably mean closing down of a large number of mines. Mr Daw's address lasted some two hours. The Chairman stated that probably the case, would be concluded by noon on Tuesday.