STATE MINES IDLE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 25, 30 January 1930, Page 11

STATE MINES IDLE

DISPUTE ABOUT- PAYMENT

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

GREYMOtJTH, 29th January.

The State miners to-day requested the Minister of Mines (the Hon. W. A. Veitch) to settle two disputes. One related to the payment of six miners for time lost when the management, by shifting a winch, caused a stoppage of coal trucks. The other regarded the wages of tho bath and boiler attendant; for whom tho award rate of enginedrivers was asked. The union explained that the latter disputo was long standing,

The Minister suggested referring the matters to the disputes tribunals as desired by tho management, and the union agreed so to refer tho case of tho six miners, but contended tho Department already had recognised tho right of the bath attendant to the award rate, but had not paid it, because the worker in question was a tnember of the Miners' Union instead of being a member of the Engine Drivers' Union. The Minors' Union decided last week to cease operations on Tuesday last until the matters were- settled. Therefore, the State mines' Were not working yesterday or to-day, and in the absence of settlement in the meantime, no work will be done to-morrow, but the Minister Is still considering the matter.