WEST COAST MINERS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18242, 28 November 1924, Page 9

WEST COAST MINERS.

NEW WORKING AGREEMENT. NEGOTIATIONS OPENED. (SrECIAL 10 TRESS.") WESTPORT, November 27. A conference of mine managers and minora* delegates opened to-day in the Buller County Chambers for the purpose of arriving at a new working agreement for coalmines pn the West Copt, Thoso engaged is. the deliberations aro:~

Representing the jpine-owbers-r-Messrs J. C, Brown (district manager, Westport Coal Company), W. Leech (Dobson Coal Company), W. Orawo (Stockton Company), A. Marshall (Denniston), McCormack (Millerton), O'Donuell (Paparoa), and Parsonage (Blackball). i The miners* representatives are: jyessra Lock (Millerton,. president of the TJpitpd Mine Workers of New Zealand), Evans (Ngakawau), Balder stone (present, We»t Coast Council), Coppersmith BUfl whittle (Dpnnistou miners), Clark (Millerton miners), MoQuUkip (BlaekMl miners), Russell (Ngakawau minors), Miller (Paparoa, miners), and English (State miners). Tlie conference \vil} last for several days, The miners' bulletin contend? that the demands are moderate, and points oil that; many of the clauses_ iii the present agreements are not being disturbed, A minimum wag? of £1 per shift is asked for truckprs and hewers not "\yorking on cpntrfict, and for spveral other classes of labour, while the demands include a 7i per cent, increase for surface workers. An advance in hewing rates for contract miners is sought at the Millerton, Stockton, Paparoa, State, and Blackball mines, with fecial clauses covering sections whpre it is contended average conditions do not obtain. Extra payment for night shift; an increase in the yardage rates, alterations to the clauses governing bottom, top, loose and fallen and pide coal and comprehensive amendments to clauses affecting timbering and trucking arp 'demanded, it is proposed to discuss the question of explosives, and a six hours' bank tp bank shift in wet places is sought. The "Council's proposals? also provide for a Ave days' week, as against eleven days a fortnight as at presentj payment for the Christmas holidays after an employee ha? worked coijtinnsnply for nine montha for pne egiplpyer, the addition of May Day to the. list of award holidays, and new overtime rates providing for time and a-hqlf for the first lionr and double time thereafter. The owners, it is stated, are sepking a 13 per cent, reductiqu in hewing rates.