CONCILIATION BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 11152, 30 January 1900, Page 1

CONCILIATION BOARD.

RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE MINERS' DISPUTE. The adjourned sitting of the Conciliation Board in the matter of the industrial dispute between the Otago Coal Miners' Union and certain employers in the Green Island district was held yesterday in tie Supreme Court. The.members of the Board we're all present —namely, Messrs F. R. Chapman (chairman), R. Ferguson, J. A. Millar, M.H.R., G P. Farquhar, ajid G. L. Sise. The parties to the dispute were represented by Mr G. Smith (secretary of the. Union), and Messrs J. Loudon (Jubilee Colliery), R. Hill (Freeman's Colliery), D. L. Christie (Christie Bros.), A. Harris (Harris and Sons), James Gray (Ferohill Coal Company), and A. Howarth (Walton 2 3 ark Coal Comoany). The Chairman announced the Board's recommendations as follow :

That the parties to tb© said dispute enter into an industrial agreement, for u. term of one year and ten months, from the Ist. day of February, 1900. such agreement to contain the following provisions: 1. Balloting every three months. All places to be balloted for. Headings and levels to bo balloted for specially. General ballot to tako place afterwards. Names of thoee thrown out of the special ballot to bo put in the general one. One man to ballot for his place in the same manner as two or more men would ballot for one place. First man out of a place to be put into the first place vacant or to start. Provided thai the mine manager may withdraw a. man, if during the three months lie lliinks it necessary for the safety of the place, in order to put a more competent man in his place.

2. The following hewing rates shall be paid : —(1) Bound coal, lid per box: (2) small coal (Urn riddle), 9d per box; (3) small coal (lin riddle), 7d per box; (4) triping, 6d per box; '(5) dross, 4d per box. 3. Pillars, when taken back in the solid. Id per box less than above rales; otherwise the above ratas or shift wages at the option of the employer shall be paid. 4. Four boxes of csisting sizes in me at each mine shall constitute a ton.

5. For narrow places yardage at the following rates is to be paid in addition to the above tonnage rates—viz.: -Headings, 6-7 feet. 4s; levels, 6-7 feet, 3s 3d; levels, 7-9 feet, 2s Gd; slentons, per yard, 2s 6d. 6. All coal hewing to bo, done on piece rates except in deficient places, provided that the mine manager may enter into any arrangement which he thinks proper with the men for the working of deficient places by piecework at such advances upon tbe prrves herein mentioned for piecework of a. like character, but not, deficient, as may be agreed on, between the mine manager a«d the Mine Committee. This clause is not to prevent the overseer and lads employed in trucking being allowed to work in their spare time hewing coal or doing other work.

7. Deficient, places are places less than 7ft, high or 6ft wide, tvr with stone in them, soft, faulty places, and extremely hard places. These are to be paid for at shift wages. 8. Shift wages shall be 9s pcr.day. 9. Wet places to be paid for at shift wages for six-hour shifts. 10. Eight hours at tho face to constitute a day's work.

11. Boxes to be repulatcdi throughout tho mine so that each man gets his share, provided the man can t«kc his turn. 12. If a miner be txken from the face to do any work in connection with the mine (whether outside or in) shift wages to be paid him.

13. Tracking distances from tho face not. to exceed four chains; beyond that 1o be paid for at Id per box for every chain or part of a chain.

14. Tools to be sharpened by the employers free of cost to the workmen, or all requisites for sharpening to be provided and facilities given for sharpening. 15. Truckers, horse-drivers, and rope attendants' wages to be as follows: —For men over nineteen years of age, not less than 7s per day; for lads or boys under nineteen, not less than 5s per day. but a special wage less than the .%bove-inenlioned wage may be fixed for any trucker by agreement betweeu the mine manager and the Mine Committee. 16. Any '''mbcring work required to be done shall be pi.T'f tor by shift wages. 17. No employer shall in employing labor discriminate against members of the union, and no employer shall in tho engagement or dismissal of his journeymen, or in the conduct of his business, do anything for the. purpose of injuring tho society, whether directly or indirectly. Members and non-members shall, when employed together, at all limes work in liarmony with one another.

18. Anything not provided for herein shall he referred to the manager and a mine committee of the employes in the mine: in case of difference the matter to be referred to the chairman of the Board, whose decision shall be final.

Tho Board adjourned until Friday next. February 2, at, 11 a.m., for the purpose of giving the parties aji opportunity of considering the recommendations and deciding whether thev will accept thorn or not.