TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR RUNANGA MINES’ DISPUTE TRIBUNAL

Grey River Argus, 14 August 1948, Page 4

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR RUNANGA MINES’ DISPUTE TRIBUNAL

Hearing Opens Tuesday Terms of reference for the Tribunal to inquire into the strike by the Runanga State Miners’ Union, last month, which begins on Tuesday, at the Greymouth Court House, were announced last night by the Minister of Mines (Hon. A. McLagan) as follows: —- The first reference is:. “What was the custom at the Liverpool and Strongman State Coal Mines, prior to the introduction of the sevenhour day, regarding the deduction from employees’ wages for time occupied in attending stop-work meetings ?” The second is: “Was the Runanga State Coal Miners’ Industrial Union of Workers, on June 21, in terms of the letter dated February 8, 1948, by the Minister of Mines, setting out the general rules applied by the Government in respect of the sevenhour day, as extended by the 1948 West Coast District Coal Mines agreement, entitled to claim payment of the seven-hour day compensation allowance of one hour for hewers on piece work, and truckers on contract or under the bonus scheme on days on which they do not work a full shift owing to attendance at stopwork meetings ?” AMENDMENTS REFUSED

The President of the Runanga State Miners’ Union (Mr. G. E. English), said last night that minor amendments to the Terms of Reference had been submitted to the Minister by his Union, but the latter had declined to accept them. The Minister stated, however, said Mr. English, that the Tribunal could deal with any matters during the hearing, which it considered relevant to the terms of the submissions. The members of the Tribunal are Messrs A. A. McLachlan, S.M. (chairman), F. Connew, of Buller; and G. E. English (of Runanga), Union representatives; J. McArthur and J. Hughes (employers’ representatives). Neither side will be represented by counsel. Mr. J. Harrington, Check Inspector of the Strongman Mine, will lead evidence for the Union, and Mr. C. J. Strongman, Superintendent of State Mines, will conduct the case for the Mines Department.