COMPLETE AGREEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 21218, 27 September 1932, Page 9

COMPLETE AGREEMENT

STATE MINERS AND GOVERNMENT [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 27. A complete agreement lias been reached between Mr Macmillan (Minister of Mines) and the State coal miners. Negotiations have been piocecding for some time, and the agieement, which will remain in force until February next, has now been signed by tho parties. Mr Macmillan stated this morning that the agreement was practically on the same lines as that reached between the New Zealand Coal Owners’ Federation and tho Miners’ Federation. The State miners had agreed to the adoption of the agreement by a majority of 115 votes. “Jt was practically unanimous, said Mr Macmillan. “I think it is a fanagreement to both parties. We made a few concessions to the men, one in connection with the transportation of household coal supplies, and another in reference to broken time. In tho past the agreement has provided that the men have to go up to the mine to sco whether there is any work for them to do. Under the new agreement the men will he informed by a whistle if there is no work at the mines.”

Mr Macmillan intimated that the “hire and fire ” clause was tho same in tho State agreement as in the agreement with tho owners. A request had been made by tho men that they should bo paid weekly, but this had been declined, and wages will continue to Jie paid fortnightly, as in the past. The terms of the agreement will be retrospective.