MR’ ULTIMATUM

Evening Star, Issue 23481, 23 January 1940, Page 6

MR’ ULTIMATUM

DISPUTE OVER HOLIDAY PAY EXTENSION OF STOPPAGE FEARED [Pek United Press. Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, January 23. An ultimatum has been issued By th# Dobson miners that the tome will be idle to-morrow unless for holiday pay are granted. The Wallsend mine has been idle since yesterday morning through the same dispute, and the stoppage threatens to extend to other mines in the next few days. Surprise at the developments on tn» West Coast was expressed this morning by Mr 0. C. Davis, president of the New .Zealand Mine Owners’ Association. The question at issue had been referred to the National Disputes Committee, and, with Mr J. Dowgray as independent chairman, the council had considered the matter all day on Thursday of last week, said Mr Davis. There had been three representative* each from the miners and the owners, he added, and a unanimous decision settling the question had been arrived The contention 'of the Wallsend -■ miners is that, to qualify for holiday pay for one day for each 20 or part therefore worked, the men should be employed for three months continuously. The employers claimed that under the existing agreement at least 181 days must be worked in the course of a year before the men have qualified for holiday wages. If a man worked his 181 days in 1938, he would, after three months’ work in 1939, then b* entitled to pro rata holiday payment. At the instigation of the Minister of Mines, Mr Webb, the Disputes Committee considered the matter, said Mr Davis. The committee had taken a liberal interpretation of the clause, bracketing working days in 1938 and 1939, and in 1939 and 1940. Now a man who, for instance, worked 175 days in one year would be entitled to 10 days’ holiday pay when he worked 25 day* in the next year. He would then receive holiday pay for the succeeding working days in the usual manner.