GOLD "TRIBUTERS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 30, 6 February 1933, Page 15

GOLD "TRIBUTERS."

THAMES WARDEN'S DECISION. AMENDMENT OF LAW SOUGHT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) THAMES, Saturday. The keen interest now being displayed in the gold-mining industry was evidenced at the sitting of the Thames Warden's Court on Thursday, when the courthouse was crowded with miners to hear the decision of the warden in a case of a forfeiture of a claim for alleged non-compliance with the regulations of the Mining Act. The claim was one of 16 acres, and it was required that during the first year two men should be employed, and in the second year four. Evidence was given that one man had been employed continuously, and that at different times, for short periods, three other men had also worked there. Three men under the relief scheme of unemployed miners have for some time been working on the claim under tribute agreement. It has been an unwritten law among miners at Thames for many years that tributers working in a claim shall comply with the regulations of the Act concerning the number of men necessary to man the ground. The interpretation of the warden on Thursday was that tributers were not "workmen" within the meaning of the Act, and their work was no performance of the labour conditions under , which every claim is granted. The decision has created much controversy among the mining community, and in all probability an endeavour will be made during the present session of Parliament to have the Mining Act altered to suit present day requirements.