COAL MINERS’ WAGES

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 80, 28 December 1929, Page 9

COAL MINERS’ WAGES

l SURPRISE DEMANDS IN AUSTRALIA SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE CLAIMED INTER-STATE DISPUTE SAID TO BE THE OBJECT (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Rec.'December 27, 7.25 p.m.) Sydney, December 27. Surprise demands, designed, the owners say, to create an inter-State dispute, have been served by the Australasian Coal and Shale Employees’ Federation upon all the western and northern mine-owners, and sent to the mine-owners throughout the Commonwealth. The demands are for an increase of 9d a ton in the hewing rates, with proportionate increases for contract work, wheelers to be paid Hid. a ton extra, with a further 2d. for each forty yards over one hundred yards; the minimum wage to be not less than 25/1 per shift. A contract worker falling to earn £5/10/- a week through no fault of his own to have the wage made up to that amount; hours to be 40 weekly, and bank to bank;'payment weekly instead of fortnightly; the conditions to operate from January 1 next. One owner commented that no mine in the Commonwealth could pay the wages demanded. The claims had been made as absurd as possible to create an Inter-State dispute before the High Court hears the coal case on January 6, when the validity of Judge Beeby’s award will be argued. TEST OF JUDGE BEEBY’S AWARD CHIEF JUSTICE HEARING EVIDENCE (Rec. December 27, 9.55 p.m.) Sydney, December 27. The Rothbury colliery resumed work to-day after two days’ holiday. Everything is proceeding smoothly. The Chief Justice, Sir Adrian Knox, has been engaged all day in a preliminary hearing of evidence and argument on the owners’ application to test the validity of Judge Beeby’s coal award. He is appealing to the parties to avoid technicalities, which should be left for the High Court to deal with. The hearing was adjourned till tomorrow.