CONTRACT LABOUR

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 27, 25 February 1913, Page 4

CONTRACT LABOUR

MORE FIGURES FROM THE MINES. Some weeks ago the president of the ! Federation, of Labour, Mr. P. C. Webb, 1 critici'sect adversely phases of the contract system as obtains in the West Coast niittes. His chief point related to > the average, wages earned in shifts, and some low figures were quoted. Figures in reply, showing the average earnings for December last in the Consolidated Goldfields Mine were supplied by Mr. W. Pryor, secretary of the Employers' Federation, to The Post, and these have 'been "supplemented by additional wages "records in- three mines for the month of January, Tho following figures set out contractors' average earnings per shift in the Blackwater Mines, Ltd. :— No. 1 party, 13s 9d (the odd fraction is omitted here) ; No. 2, 26« 8d; No. 3, 17s 3d; No. 4. 13s 4d ', No. 5, 14s 7d ; No. 6, 14s ; No. ?, 19s Id; No. 8, 13s 3d; No. 9,^ 13s lid j No. 10, 8s lid ; No. 11, 15a lid ; No. 12, 17s Id j No. 13, 26s Id ; No. 14, 17s 3d; No. 15, Us Id. Progress Mines of N.Z., Ltd.—Stoping ; Nos. 1 and 2, 13s 2d ; No. 3, 13s 4d ; No. 4, 17s 2d. Development : No. . 1, 17s 4d; No. 2, 18s 2d; No. 3, 22s 9d; No. 4, 14s 3d; No. 5, 20s sd. The Consolidated Goldfields.— Stoping: No. 1, 12s 9d; No. 2, 20s 8d; No. 6, 10s lqd; No. 4, 8s lid; No. 5, 18s 4d. . Development 1 No. 1, 20s ; No. 2, 21s lOd ; 'No. 3, 17s 6d ; No. 4, 21s 8d ; No. 5, 10s sd ; No. 6, 6s 4d. It is explained, .in regard to the three sets Of low figures that these contractors are as yet inexperienced, and if they do not improve their* earnings they will hate to tnke work at other 'Operations at day wages or leave altogether. -The parties run from about four to twelve men.