GOLD MINERS’ WAGES

Grey River Argus, 11 May 1936, Page 2

GOLD MINERS’ WAGES

Dredge Workers’ Demands NEW AWARD SOUGHT. The West kind Gold Dredge and Alluvial Gold Mines Employees’ Industrial Union has filed an application with tin. Clerk of Awards, Greymouth for a new working award. The Conciliation Commissioner, Mr. R. Ritchie, has fixed Wednesday, June 3, at Greymouth, for the hearing of the dispute. Thirty companies have, been cited by the union as parties to the dispute, representing all the dredging and sluicing companies operating at present on the coast.

The principal demands of flic union are as follows: — Wages —iDredgeniasfer £4O a month, winchman 4s an hour, engineer 3s 6d, titter ami turner 3s 6d, blacksmiths 3s (id, electricians 3s fid, blacksmiths 3s (RL welders 3s 6d, amalgamators 3s 6d, engine driver, first class ticket, 3s fid engine driver, second-class ticket. 3s. (fireman 2s 7id, motorman 3s, stackerman 3s, greaser 2s 71d, striekers 2s 7LI. I.Desman 2/7?., labourers 2/71, Diesel attendant 3s fid, cloth washer in alluvial mines 3s, face men shift work 2s 9d. labourers 2s 7hl. Boring Plants —Driller 3s fid an hour panner off 3s, pumpman 2s 9d. labourers 2s 7 Jd. Men engaged stumping and clearing bush—Bush foreman 3s fid an hour, snigger 3s, bush winchman, steam or electric, 3s, tractor driver 3s, other men employed on clearing work 3s. The hours of work shall not exceed 40 hours a week and shall not exceed eight hours a shift, all ordinary shifts shall be complete shifts of eight hours. Where any worker is called out for special work a minimum of four hours shall be paid. Holidays. The following holidays shall be observed: — December 22 to January fi. inclusive, Sundays, Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter ALonday. Labour Day, King’s Birthday Anzac Day, and an nual meeting d'ay of the union. Ail the above holidays shall be paid hoi.days. All holidays as provided for (with the exception of Sundays ami the annual meeting day of the union) shall be paid for at double ordinary rates, and all work done on Sundays and the annual meeting day of the union shall be paid for at treble ordinary rates Wash-up Men. Men engaged on wash-up work where in water, shall be supplied with gumboots and shall be paid fid an hour over and above the ordinary rate while so employed. Average existing rates of pay by most of the dredging companies are:— Winchman 2s Lid an hour (demand 4s). electricians 2s lid (3s fid), blacksmith 2s lid (3s fid), motormen and greasers Is 10jd (3s and 2s 7J.d), tacemen Is lOd (2s 9d), firedgeniaster £32 a month (£4.0). Alexander Mines Ltd. REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 1936. No 4 Intermediate North.- —The position of th's face is now 133 feet north of winze, forty-one feet being driven for the month. This face looks very well, the lode averageing 3ft Gin. in width a»d the quality good. The stone :s going strong underfoot and contained between two good walls. Thetolal length of stone driven on to date is now 173 feet. No 5 North Level This face has been driven to 167 feet north of the main crosscut. The reef track driven on. although carrying a lot of stone has not made into a solid body of ore as expected but it is probable that the orebody is floating overhead and following its usual strike north. The reef track 'n the face is two feet wide and carries boulders of stone. Stoping has been carried on in No 4 intermediate backs both north and south of the winze. On the north side the leading stope is being taken off the reef varying in width from 3 to 9 feet. The stoping carried out on the south of the w’.nze shows lode average 3 feet in width and 40 feet in length. Gold can be seen freely in the ore broken. Battery. —For the period 312 tons were broken and sent to the battery, making a total with the previously reported tonnage for February and March 588 tons, which were crushed for a return of 258 ozs 8 dwts. melted gold The cyanide department treated 360 tons of sands for 58 ozs 2 dwts bullion. The total estimated value of these returns is £2,290. In addition. SJ tons of conccntrati•< have been saved valued at £l5O. (Note; In estimating the above values, gold has been taken at 145/- per fine ounce).