Coal Miners Demand Increase in Wages

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 93, 20 April 1945, Page 5

Coal Miners Demand Increase in Wages

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 19. An application from the United Mine Workers’ cf New Zealand for an increase of 2s 4d a day to all wage work ers and 10 per cent, im all piece work rates in consequence of the Arbitration Court’s recent pronouncement under which basic wage rates were increased received at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Coal Owners’ Associa tion in Wellington this week was the subject of a special meeting to-day tended by representatives of the Association, the United Mine Workers and by the Mining Controller (Mr. C, HT. Benny).

For the miners it was stated that their claim was based upon the recent pronouncement of the Court of Arbitration and in their opinion this pronouncement was generally understood to imply that all wage rates in New Zealand would be increased by 3sd an hour. It was added that workers in the freezing industry had recently concluded an agreement which had been approved by the Court of Arbitration and which provided for a general increase of an hour. In the discussion representatives of the coal mining proprietors quoted the earnings of the various sections of the coal mine workers, showing they had in fact more than anticipated the Court’s pronouncement and that their wage rates were already subsantially in ex cess of the new basic rates laid down by the Court. Finally, the reply of the employers tc the request was that as it was based upon the pronouncement of the Court and there was a very wide difference ot opinion between the workers and employers as to what was intended by the Court’s pronouncement that the claim

should be submitted to Court and the employers would be glad to facilitate the hearing of any such application. In response to this suggestion the workers’ representatives stated that they were not in the habit of referring coal mining matters to the court though there were some instances ol ! awards in the coal mining industry. They regret ted that the employers were not prepar ed to concede the demands, but they would have to report back to their members the fact that their request was declined.