MINERS’ PAY CUT

Grey River Argus, 10 May 1935, Page 3

MINERS’ PAY CUT

PART RESTORED Unions Accept Offer (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, May 9. A restoration of 5 per cent., or hair of the cut, in coal miners’ wages has been agreed to on a Dominion-wide basis, and the increase will take effeet on the first full pay day this month. A ten per cent, cut was the only reduction made in the miners’ wages.

A request for restoration of the full amount was made at a conference held in February between delegates from the National Council of United Mine Workers and representatives of the Coal Mine Owners’ Association. The question of a new agreement was then adjourned, hut it. was re-opened recently as a result of a national ballot among the miners. The parties held a further meeting in Wellington last week, and the owners agreed to restore live per cent, of the cut, this being subject to the existing agreement remaining in force until the end of the year 1936. This was accepted by the men’s delegates, conditional on the approval of the miners’ unions throughout New Zealand.

’File Coal Mine Owners’ Association in Otago, which is distinct from Hie New Zealand Association, was also given an opportunity to consider the

proposals. Mr AV. D. Holgate, President of the New Zealand Association, was advised to-day that the unions had ratified the proposals, and that the Otago Mine Owners’ Association had reluctantly agreed to them.