COAL-MINING AWARDS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 82, 8 April 1910, Page 3

COAL-MINING AWARDS.

WEST COAST CASES. [BY TELEOftAPR— PQESS ASSOCIATION.] GREYMOI7TH, 7th April. The Conciliation Court, presided o\er by Mr P. Hally, Commissioner, has been sitting for threo days in succession to adjust some poiinVof difference between the Point Elizabeth Railway and Coal Company and (he Grey Valley Industrial Union of Workers, also the North Brunncr Coal Company and the name union of workei.*. In both cases the points .it issue were discussed in the most amicable spirit, representatives in each case being thoroughly conversant with the various subject* under review, and these included the whole of the underground arrangements, cuch at hewing, tracking, wet places, shift wages, casual shiftmen, the wages of carpenters, blacksmiths, engineman, wheelmen, horse drivers, and trucking by miners. In respect to the latter, the companies have agreed to do the great bull: of the trucking. The little to be Hone by the mcv is, of cuurfu, unavoidable. Tiurking conditions in each ca*e are pretty much the same as obtain at the State mine, though rather more in favour of the miner?. The ronditionsare : — Mineis to truck their own coal not past the permanent fiatsheet ; if they truck from 20 to 50 yards, 2d per ton extra ; for each 25 yards or portion thereof above or over 50 yard?, 3d per ton extra. In any place "in the mino whero the trucking by miners experts 25 yards, Ihe extra (onraijc must be paid, or a roll off made for the truckers, such roll off to be as near ns possible, but not more than 25 yards from the face. Miners to run tbo face jig up to 25 yards ; over that distance to be paid the same extra rate 1 ; at trucking. In all other respects the award is very much on the old lines. In one respect only the nvrnrtl in the case of th© North Brunner seems to djffer from that in the case of the Point Klizabeth ComI>any. Tho clause referred to is as folo'ws : — "The operation of this clause shall not apply for a period of six i month; from date, of signing this award, with the exception of the rates mentioned for such shifts." The agreement is equally *atisfactory to all parties.