STATE COLLIERIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 July 1923, Page 2

STATE COLLIERIES

JAMES MINE HEWAGE RATES A conference was held yesterday under the presidency of Mr. W. Newton, Conciliation Commissioner, between representatives of the State Mines Department and of the State Miners’ Union, respecting the conditions of work at the James Colliery. Messrs I. A. ames, W. Parsonage and AV. McCormack appeared for the Department, and the Union was icpiesented by Messrs J. Pattinson, R. Knight and R. Southward. Mr. W. R. Kimbell, Undersecretary of Mines, was also present. The object of the conference was to discuss terms of the proposed award, and if possible to arrive at., a mutual agreement. All the proposals submitted by the Department were agreed upon, excepting the hewage rates for solid workings. The Department’s proposals with the Union’s Counter

Discussion on the rates occupied the whole of the morning and the greater part of the afternoon. The Union representative made a reduction on the original counter-propos-als by amending the rate for the highest working from 5/6 to 4/3, (the rate for the remainder of the workings to be in ratio) lor the fii st 3 months 4/- for the second three months 3/9 for the third three months and thence forward 3/6. Mr. Pattinson based his claim on the ground that the development of the mine at the present stage v, as difficult, and the sliding scale would protect the interests of the men until such time as the mine resolved itself into normal working. Mr. Kimbell, after conferring with the Department’s representatives, made an offer of an increase of 4(1 on each of the proposals originally offered. Mr. Pattinson said he would have

to bring the matter before his Union. Mr. Kimbell said that as far as the sliding scale was concerned, he was in the same position. He would have to consult the Minister before he could agree to it. On Mr Pattinson’s agreeing tc bring the matter before the Unior that evening, the conference adjourned until 9.30 to-day. TO-DAY’S PROCEEDINGS.

When the conference resumed this morning, Mr Pattinson announced that he had brought the matter before the Union last evening, and the Department’s amended proposals were definitely rejected, but the Union’s amended counter proposals were approved by a small majority. There was no hope of discussing the matter on a 3/6 basis. The Union wanted a settlement, but the rate proposed by the employers was altogether too low. He thought the amended counter proposals provided an easy r way out of the difficulty. After a good deal of informal discussion, Mr Kimbell agreed to recommend to the Minister that an increase of lOd be granted on the Department’s original proposal for coal over Bft high, the rates for the remainder to be in ratio. The Department was willing to give the men a written undertaking protecting them in the event of their being put to any additional expense in the use of explosives. The Union’s representatives agreed to this. It was admitted by the representatives of the Department that the coal will be more difficult to work than the coal in other mines on the West Coast, and to enable the miners to earn a similar rate of wages to those offering in other mines, the Department offered to increase the hewing rates offered by them, which are based on the rates stipulated in the present agreement, by lOd for the first six months, subject to a reduction of 3d for the next three months. At the end of the nine m< -nths the management would be paying the rates prevailing at other mines, plus 4d, making the rate in the sft places 3/6 as against 3/2, the other rates being in ratio. The new proposals were discussed at length, both this morning and this afternoon. (Proceeding).

proposals, were: —■ Dept. Union Workings 3ft to 3ft Gin 5/6 — over 3ft Gin to 4ft 4/9 8/9 „ 4ft to 4ft Gin 3/10 6/9 „ 4ft Gin to 5ft 3/4:| G/over 5ft 3/2 5/6