I WORK CEASES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 31 August 1936, Page 7

I WORK CEASES.

WAIHI GOLDMINE.

TROUBLE OVER HOURS FIVE-DAY WEEK WANTED. PROTEST BY UNIONS. (By Telegrapn. —Own Correspondent.! WAIHI, this day. All work ceased at the Martha gold mine this morning at S o'clock, and it is understood that the battery workers at Waikino are following suit to-day. Certain men reported for work at the usual time this morning but were sent home bv the management, following the company's interpretation of the 40-liour week, and all men subsequently ceased work in sympathy. Men employed at the Golden Mine, Owliaroa. are "so far not affected by the dispute, and work is proceeding at the mine and battery as usual. \ union official stated this morning that in regard to the new adjustment ot hours of work the unions concerned had not been consulted in the matter. The town to-day has a quiet appearance, with groups of men discussing the position. Protest Meeting Held.

The provision made by the Arbitration Court recently in respect to the mining industry when granting a 40-hour week, that work would be permitted on Saturdays, was unanimously rejected by members of the Ohinemuri Mines and Batteries Union at a meeting held yesterday morning at the Academy Theatre It was decided to observe only a 40-hour week of five days. The meeting, which was one of the largest ever held m "VYaihi. was presided over by the president, Mr. J. Thorpe, and the discussion centred round the provision made by the Court that work was permissible on Saturdays. The following resolutions were carriod unanimously:— "That this meeting of all unions emphatically protests against the judgment of the Arbitration Court m so far as permitting work on Saturdays is concerned, and is of the opinion that the iuclgment in that respect is not in conformity with the spirit of the legislation." "That members work the 40-hour week from midnight Sunday continuous for five days, overtime rates to apply after that time; no relieving men to take the place of men stood down during the five days." Broken Shifts. It was stated officially that the men were unanimous in their opinion that they should not be required to work broken shifts. It was stated that a worker in some instances was required, say, on night shift, to commence work at' midnight Sunday, and stand off at 4 o'clock in the morning. He was then required to make up the four hours lost on that shift on tie following Saturday. Other workers, it was stated, had been requested to take a day off during the week and work on Saturdays without overtime. It was pointed out that section 22 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1936, provided that in any order of the Court fixing at not more than 40, the maximum weekly working hours, the Court shall endeavour to "fix the daily working hours so that no part of the working period falls on a Saturday. Notices were recently posted at the mine and battery by the management as follow: —

i (1) "To Contractors.—The mine will be open for development work, orebreaking and trucking from midnight Sundays to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, as usual. (2) "To Wages Men. —The Arbitration Court has granted a 40-hour week, but has permitted Saturday work at ordinary time. As far as possible the hours of work of all wages men covered by industrial agreement will be in accordance with the intention of the Legislature. Relieving Hands Necessary. (3) "Owing to the necessity of maintaining tonnage, a considerable amount of work must still be carried out on Saturdays. Many men, including repair gangs, will be required on Saturdays, and they will be relieved from duty for an equivalent number of hours on some other day in the week. This will mean, the employment of some additional men, who will act as relieving hands for full shifts or half shifts during the week, as the nature of the work requires. (4) "The reduced hours will operate as from Tuesday, September 1, but in some cases where men work the round of shifts the new routine will commence as from midnight on Sunday, August 30." Interviewed recently at Waihi, Mr. E. G. Milligan, local director and attorney of the Martha Gold Mining Company (Waihi), Ltd., stated that in granting the 40-liour week the Court had in part recognised the arguments submitted 'by the Martha Company, as it had permitted work to be carried on at ordinary rates all day on Saturdays. The company, he said, had almost completed its arrangements for putting the 40liour week into operation as from September 1, This involved the employment of some additional men and the rearrangement of the hours of many of ( the existing employees. Readjustments ' had been made as simple as possible, and after a week or two he thought everything should be working quite smoothly. The industrial agreements in force, he added, would not expire until May, 1937. Over 600 workers are affected, including miners, carpenters, joiners, engineers and engine drivers.