GOLD MINING DISPUTE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 15 November 1937, Page 3

GOLD MINING DISPUTE

ARBITRATION COURT HEARING ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE GIVEN I By Telegraph—Props Association! AUCKLAND, 11th November. 'The third day’s hearing of the Waihi goldmining dispute, in which four unions tire claiming increased wages, shorter hours and alterations in working conditions from the Martha Goldi Mining Company (Waihi), Ltd., and I Golden Dawn Mines, Ltd., was taken in j the Arbitration Court to-day, when the 1 mining section of the dispute was completed. Further evidence was brought by the employers to rebut the claim of the union that the companies could aflord to pay increased wages and to support the companies’ contention that increased costs would make the mining of dying claims uneconomical. Later each party reviewed the case. For the applicant unions, Mr J. Roberts, Wellington, said Rccflon awards had always been as high as or higher than Waihi’s wage rates. The u. ’ n wanted a minimum wage, and there was no reason why the men should not be given one. As for shorter hours, every effort had been made by the Martha Company to prevent a 40hour week from operating. Both battery and transport were worked under a 40-hour week in more difficult mines. "It has been said there is a danger of the mine dying if taxed by increased wages,” said Mr Roberts. “The court has been told the same thing for the last 20 years. Immediately after it was said in 1922 a dividend of 20 per cent, was paid. In 1931 the mine was given two years to live, in 1922 two or three year, and in 1912 it had not long to live. It is a healthy mine still. Last year £IOO,OOO was distributed in dividends. Mr Milligan had said the men had blocked conferences. The company had never ceded Id to the men unless confronted by the threat of a strike or an actual strike or an Arbitration Court order. Auckland shareholders of the company had given the people parks and gardens. The company had given its men graves through the miners complaint. In deciding what wages should be paid, said Mr Roberts, the court should be swayed by the dangerous nature of miners’ work, the shift work they had to do, the dividends paid by the company and the court’s own recent decision in the Blackwatcr dispute. This concluded the miners’ section of the dispute and the eourt proceeded to deal with the engine-drivers’ section. AUCKLAND, 12th November. Sixteen gold-mining companies in the Thames and Coromandel district were cited in a dispute heard in the Court of Arbitration, when the Thames Miners’ Union applied for an award containing provision for higher wages and different conditions of work. A number of clauses had been agreed to in previous discussions, including one that the maximum number of hours a week should be 40. The Talisman Dubbo Gold-Mining Company was named as the principal respondent, Mr M. 11. Wynyard appearing on its behalf and for other companies. Mr J. Roberts tepresenled the union. It was disputed whether Lite 40-hour week should be worked over five or six days, the companies claiming tne right of Saturday work. Difficulty met with in mining in the Thames district, as compared with other districts, was claimed to give the men rights which had not been embodied in previous agreements, and the dangerous nature of the workings was emphasised by a number of witnesses. Rupert Hounslow, miner in the Talisman Dubbo mine, said the country about the mine was very rotten and mining was dangerous, with accidents prevalent. At present 15 per cent, of the men on the payroll were on accident pay. In some respects the mine was good. Because time was short each party agreed to pul in its statements later to the court. This concluded the hearing of the whole gold-mining dispute, which had occupied four oays.