NEW WAIHI UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 304, 20 December 1912, Page 5

NEW WAIHI UNION.

DRAFT OF AGREE-CEHT. F___r__SCE TO UNIONTSTS. (By Telesrapr-.—Own Correspondent) WAIHI, this day. As the result of several meetings of the new Miner.' Union, a draft agree- ' ment in connection with working eondi- [ I tions in the mining industry in this field ' has now been about completed. The draft ■ will be submitted to a conference of re-j . I presetrtatives of mine owners after the j holidays, and in its completed form will ;j be registered in the Arbitration Court, j jlt is understood the draft em-bodies a ' clause giving preference to unionists ' I under the Arbitration Act, somewhat ■: similar to the Huntlv award, providing ■ that applicants be competent workmen j 'l and of good character. It is under-1 ■'stood that the principal clauses dealing- ' r with the miaimtun rate of wages show j '! that the union is asking for an increase . ■' in the payment of surface labourers from ; US/ (present rate) to 9/ (this is gener-; : , ally considered to be most urgent and; '■ deserving) : miners in stopes. from 9/ '! (present rate I to 10/': .haftmen, 11/6] ! ! (the present rate is 10/ and 10/6 I. An, 1 i increase is also asked for carpenters, the; "'present rate being 9/(5. A suggested j l] alteration in regard to hours of labour; j on Saturday is also made, providing that | f i the day shift shall terminate at 1-.30 -in-j -! stead of _), and that afternoon shift; 1 ■ shall cease at 5 inrrtead of S o'clock. | 1 j With reference to battery workers, it is, -' i asked that the day shift shall cease at •I _ o'clock, instead of 4 o'clock on Satur- " ' day. A number of other clauses deal ' I with general conditions, etc. -1 Apart from the suggested agreement, •| it is tacitly understood that the prin- ! ciple of freedom of contract will be observed, and that there will be no compulsion in resard to the "all-in-job" system as instituted by the Federation oi Labour It is also understood that the new union as a body will steer clear of politics and religion.