THE HUNTLY COAL MINING DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13435, 13 March 1907, Page 7

THE HUNTLY COAL MINING DISPUTE.

AN AMICABLE SETTLEMENT,

[BT TELEGRAPH.— OWN* CORRESPONDENT.]

Hr.vrLT, Tuesday. A conference between the directors of the Taupiri coal mines and representatives of the Waikato Coal Miners' Union, with a view to settling existing differences, began on Monday, and ended at two o'clock today. The directors were represented by Messrs. Alison, Gordon, and Ralph, and the union by Messrs. J. Fulton (chairman), Robt. Manning (secretary). Thos. Dunn, John Phillips. John Stewart, and William Thompson. Both parties displayed a most conciliatory spirit, and a satisfactory result was arrived at. Though the representatives of the union were somewhat j>essimistic, the result of the conference was most advantageous to the workers, and means a general increase of wages all round. In the agreement arrived at the hours of labour were unaltered, except that five minutes less per day was conceded, together, with half-an-hour's pay; the work on Saturday to start an hour earlier. The yardage rate is unchanged, and miners when taken from the face are to receive 10s instead. Truckers, clippers, bracemen, tippers, head banksmen, and screensmen. are given an increase of 6d per day; miners, roadsm'en, blacksmiths, carpenters, and labourers an increase of Is per day; boys up to 18 years of age an increase from 3d to 6d per day; winding engiuedrivers, 10s; certificated hauling enginedrivers and locomotive drivers, 9s 6d; uncertificated haulage engineers and firemen, 8s 6d; stationary engineers and fitters, 9s 6d. Overtime is to be time and a-quarter, and Sunday work is to be paid at time and, a-half. The holidays are to lie : Ngaruawahia Regatta, Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Monday, King's Birthday or Labour Day. or a substituted day. Christmas and Boxing Hays, the 24th or 27th (as arranged), and January 1 and 2. Double time is to be paid on Good Friday and Christ and New Year Days. The clause re preference to unionist* is unchanged. Hewing rates are increased 2d per ton, and for places rising one in six 2d per ton extra: fireclay, 2s per ton. All stone is increased 9d per skip: bottom stone, filled or thrown back, Is per ton. The agreement, which is to remain in force from April 1. 1907, till April 1, 1909, will be placed before the general body of workers on Wednesday night. There appears to be no doubt as to its' adoption by the men, since the concessions are much more generous and favourable than were anticipated. The representatives of the union speak highly of their reception by the directors.