WEST COAST MINES

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 10, 12 January 1924, Page 8

WEST COAST MINES

TERMS OF SETTLEMENT

STATEMENT BY EMPLOYERS,

The following official statement was made yesterday afternoon by Mr. B. L. Hammond, assistant-secretary to the New Zealand Employers' Federation :—7

The settlement arrived at has been ratified by all parties concerned, and arrangements are being ,made.for all mines to resume work on Monday next. The Arbitration Court award will oont\e to operate, but the workers: ?«id employers will make immediate application to have the award amended so as to embody the terms of the settlement. The latter are as follow : —

(1.) Immediately alter the resumption of work, payment will be made by the Westport Coal Company and the West-port-Stockton Coal Company of the difference between pillar rates and solid rates in all cases in which subsequent to the making of the present award, first splits have been driven through pillars which had been split prior to the making of the award. This clause shall also apply to Blackball and Paparoa mines. (2.) It is agreed that the provision of clanse 14 of the present award in reference to head coal in the Westport Coal Company and Westport-Stockton Company mines shall apply to headings as well as to all other places in the mine. Payment to be retrospective to commencement of the award. (3.) The Westport-Stockton Coal Company from the date' of resumption of work will pay one shilling per day increase on the present award rates to outside electric-locomotive drivers and brakesmen. (4.) On resumption of work the West-port-Stockton Coal Company, will pay the amount in dispute for side coaL (5.) In consideration of the special conditions in the Deep Creek section, the Westport-Stockton Coal Company will pay one shilling per shift, to all workers in that section in addition to award ratss.

(6.) In isolated or inconvenient places —that is, where not more than one pair of men are" trucking to the same flat sheet—miners shall do their own trucking and run the jig below; for trucking they shall be paid the following rales: From 22 yards to 44 yards, three hours per shift, and thereafter one hour per shilt per chain or portion of a chain, and for running the jig below the rates provided in the award. This clause shall be applicable where necessary to the top pair of men in a bank or heading.

(7.) The minimum wage, as provided in clause 19 of the award, shall be- calculated_on a weekly basis instead of fortnightly basis, payment to be made fortnightly.

(8.) Each case of failure of. one pair of men in a double shift place to make the minimum wage shall be dealt with on its merits, and such pair of men shall he entitled to the same consideration in respect of the minimum wage, as if they were working in a single shift place, provided that, a daily record shall be kept by the underviewers and deputies of all substantial interruptions of the trucking or haulage system, and such records shall be accepted as final evidence in all cases on the question of whether or not the failure of any pair of men to make the minimum wage has not been due to want of trucks. It is agreed by both parties that if this clanae should prove to be unsatisfactory after six months' trial, a further conference will be held to reconsider it. \

(9.) For setting props over twelve feet in height, one shilling per, prop, shall be paid. >

(10.) The miners' minimum wage shall be 17s 6d per shift. (11.) All daily wage rates under the present award shall be increased by T^ per cent.

(12.) Clause 12 (a) of the Westland district coal miners' award to be amended by increasing the rate of 3d per ton per chain prescribed therein to 4£d per ton per chain, (13.) The foregoing provisions to be embodied in the present award as an amendment on the joint application of all parties thereto.