PAY OF MINERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 152, 29 June 1944, Page 4

PAY OF MINERS

WAIKATO DIRECTION BOARD NOT CONSULTED (Special) HUNTLY, this day. The precise nature of the decision announced beforehand to miners before it had been considered by the Coal Mines Council and the Waikato Control Board, to which reference was made by the chairman of Taupiri Coal Mines, Ltd., in his address to shareholders yesterday, is indicated in a circular to branches of the United Mine Workers under the signature of the secretary, Mr. A. McLagan, who is also Minister of National Service. "It is reported that there is some misunderstanding as to the payment to be made for work done on the King's Birthday, June 5, and this circular is being sent out to explain the position," states the communication. "At the present time an agreement has been made for the Stateowned mines which provides for payment of one day's pay for each of nine statutory holidays a year, including King's Birthday and also May Day, plus a further payment of double time for any work done on any of chese nine daj's. That agreement is to be extended to the Waikato State-controlled mines at the meeting of the Waikato Coal Mines Control Board, which is to be held during the week beginning June 5." Actually the meeting was held on June 6, and the control board had no opportunity to discuss, before it was known to the miners, a "decision" which had been made by others beforehand.