OHINEMURI ENGINEERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 46, 22 February 1918, Page 3

OHINEMURI ENGINEERS.

INCREASE IN WAGES ASKED. The Ohinemuri engineers' dispute was heard at the Arbitration Court before his Honor Mr. Justice Stringer to-day. Mr. Hopkins appeared for the employers j and Mr. Elston for the union. ; Mr. Elston stated there were only two questions in dispute, namely, wages and I the terms of the award. The union asked ! that the term of the award be two years and the rate of wages be 1/11 per hour. Ho pointed out that at present unskilled labourers received more than' the men who were parties to the dispute, j ' Janies Ward, employed at the Waihi! I Grand Junction mine "ac a turner, said j he received 11/3 per day, which worked out at £3 7/0 per -week. Henry Turner, turner and fitter in the employ of the Waihi (Sold Mining Company, gave similar evidence. lie stated also that a number of necessaries ' were considerably dearer in Wajhi tlian they were iv Auckland. Turning was highly skilled work, and the eflieiency of the machinery depended upon the accu-lai-y o fthe work done by the turner. P. Gauvain, assistant, superintendent of the Waihi Company, in giving evidence for the, employers, stated that increase Jin expenditure .it the mine as the result of the war had been very heavy, and amounted to a.bout £13,000 since tho year 1015. On tht> new contract for cyanide they would be called upon to pay over £4000 more than previously. Kxplosives had also increased in price, and the percentage of nitro-glycrrino ill the gelignite had been reduced from (10 per cent to r>o per cent. He pave other instances of increases, including wire rope, oik. steel plate, flints, etc. Income tax, he said, had also been greatly increased, in New Zealand for the year 1914 the Waihi Company paid £4545; in 1015. £7851; in IOKi, £10.932, and in 1917, C18,;")O0. In England the company 'in 1014 paid £15,734; in 1013. • £17,113*; and in 1010, £17,2ti!1. The English figures for the year 1917 were not yet to hand. ' Evidence was given in corroboration by other mine managers. I The Court reserved ite decision.