WAIHI MINERS' DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13463, 16 April 1907, Page 3

WAIHI MINERS' DISPUTE.

HEARING. before ARBITRA-

TION COURT.

OPENING OF UNION'S CASE.

[UV TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Waiih, Monday.

The Arbitration Court opened its sittings at Waihi to-day, to deal with the demands made by the Waihi Miners and Workers' Union, The Court was presided over by Mr. .Justice Sim (president), and Messrs. S. Brown and R. Slater. Mr Arthur Reiser (secretary of the Auckland Trades and Labour Council) appeared on behalf of the Miners' Union, assisted by Messrs. D. Johnston and H. T. Armstrong. Mr. W. Scott (late secretary of the Employers' Federation) appeared for the Waihi Gold Mining Company, Grand Junction, Waihi Extended, and Consolidated Companies. Mr. Rosser stated that with' regard to an application from Mr. H. Bamfield, on behalf of the Amalgamated Carpenters and Joiners' Society (which he said was concerned in the dispute), he Had been empowered to secure the interests in question, under clause 1, the idea being to avoid a multiplicity of awards. His Honor advised, that an arrangement be made between Messrs. Rosser and B.uufield, and this w; s agreed.

Mr. Scott 1 landed to the Court the companies. statement of their position, which set out that 'they' practically held to the original award.

Mr. Rosser asked the leave of the Court to amend the demands as filed.

THE AMENDED DEMANDS. The amended demands are as follows: —

Preference to Unionists.—ln all rases where the companies or contractors working under the companies during the term of this agreement are starting new hands, it shall be the duty of the management of the said company or contractors to acquaint each new employee of the fact that employers and workers in the said district covered by tins award are working under an agreement made and executed under the provisions of the Industrial Arbitration and Conciliation Act and amendments thereof, and that such workers being employees of the said company or contractors are required to become members of the Wailii Miners and Workers' Union. Surface Labourers.— I The hours of labour shall be 45 hours per week for labourers and mechanics. Xo more than eight hours shall be worked in any one day. The time shall be between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on live days of week, and between I a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturdays. All work outside these hours to be rated as overtime. Wet Shafts.— hours to constitute the day's work. Other wet working's to be six hours also. Hot and gassy places six-hour shifts. rime of Payments at Waikino.—Open. Contracts.—All wager; men now employed by contractors shall be paid fortnightly at the company's olilce (the pay clerk) on the . day following the company's usual pay day. I company to be responsible for all waives by contractors. Such receipts to be duplicated and handed to contractors. The conpany to be responsible for wages if tile contractors have not earned enough to pay men employed. On the regular contractors' pay day the contractor to be paid in full for all work done up to the regular measuring day. and no percentage kept back. All contractors must be members of the Waihi Miners and Workers' Union. If union requires information re discharge or suspension of members such information to be supplied by company. Any matter not provided for by this I agreement to be settled between the cm-

ployera concerned ami the committee of the union. Copy of award shall be posted up in every department or in conspicuous places.

No man shall be employed below minimum rate except by permit from the union. All men employed over one mile from district otlice shall travel one way in company's time. Tile company shall supply the union with a list of all wages men, contractors, and contractors' wages men at least once every quartet'. Recommendation.—Miners in drives and stopes, 9s per shift; miners in dry shafts and winzes, 9s 6d; rockdrillers. "one shilling" extra; titnbermcn, 9s 6d ; brae cm en. 8s 6d ; chambermen, 9s. Any person employed in putting; on or taking ofT trucks and timber to bo considered as chambermen and bracemen. Muilockers and truckers, 8s 6d per shift; surface labourers. 8s; blacksmiths' strikers (over 20 years), 8s; tool sharpeners, 9s; firemen (up to three fires). 8s fid; firemen (over three tires) 9s. Battery Hands.—No youth under the age of 16 years shall be employed in battery or tailing plant Number of boys to be limited to one to three men employed in any one ••department. That, p.ll youths employed under 20 years of ace shall be subject to agreement between the Wailn Miners and Workers' Union and employers. Youths' wages: 16 to 17 years, 4s 6d per day; 17 to 18 years, 5s 6d; 18 to 19 years, 6s 6d: 19 to 20 years. 7s 6(1; over 20 years of age, the minimum wage. Men actually working at stampers, 8s 6d per day; greasers (over 20 years of ago), 8s: men working at or about stone-crusher, 8s; truckers from stonecrusher, 8s; men actually working at repairs, 8s 6d; labourers, 8s; labourers working shifts. &3 'id; men actually working at cy;uiide. 8s 6d; men actually working at presses, 8s 4tl; amalgamators, 10s; electric motor drivers, 9s; men in charge of switch I board, 9s.

.Engineers.Stationary nee! river (Ist), 10s 6d per shift; stationary euginedriver (2nd), 9s 6d per shift; liremen. 8s 6d per shift; general blacksmiths, 9s 6d per day: fitters and turners, 9s 6d; strikers (over 20 years of age), 88; carpenter.; - , 10s; plumbers, 10s; locomotive enginedrivers, —: locomotive firemen. 8s Cd; cleaners (under 20s years of age), 7s 6d; winchmen. 10s; winchmon, underground, 10s 6d; winding enginedrivers, lis; engine greasers, 9s. Sunday work: All work to be done on Sundays to be paid double time. Men not to be employed two Sundays running. Overtime.—Overtime to be paid at the rate of time and a-quarter for the first two hours, ami time and a-half afterwards on week days. Overtime not to exceed four hours' duration.

Holidays.All men to be allowed one week's holiday each year, if they require it. Good Friday and Christmas Day to -Iks considered as Sundays. " Miners' Union Day" shall be observed as a close holiday, and 110 men shall be allowed to work on that day. with, the exception of those required at pumping, repairs, and in connection with the cyanide process; the above to be paid time and aiialt. Definition.All figures quoted in the -.e demands for wages are to be taken in eacii case to mean the minimum. CASE FOR THE UNION. Mr. llosser pointed out a further amendment re " night work for youths," claiming 6d per Whift- extra. The. union were working under an agreement arranged before the Board of Conciliation, which expired on December 19, 1905. It had all the nature of an award. It had held force, and had not been disputed, but it was deemed 1111satisfactory. Am to the lirst clause (preference to unionists), he did not anticipate any opposition from the companies. They had agreed to it, and had 110 complaint- to make 011 that score. He read a copy of the notice posted at the company's works demanding union membership.

His Honor pointed, out that the present clause imposed 110 obligation on tlie companies to insist on membership. It seemed, however, that a more effective purpose was served by tho companies' notice than by the union's own clumsily drafted preference amendment.

Mr. Rosser stated that with reference to surface labourers no alteration was asked for. The clause with reference to pay at Waikino was deleted to allow of a mutual arrangement.. He had nothing to say against contracting, but he was instructed to vigorously op|>o.\e the present existing condition of contracting. "Contracting" was a misnomer, as the companies reserved the right- to control the contractors' men. The contractors were members of the union, and had always paid higher wages than the award. The system of borrowing men by the company, which was practised, led to confusion, and the contractors had to make good the difference in pay. The company held the right to direct men where they should work, and entered into and upset the contractors' plans, thus defeating their calculations. The contractors were entirely at the mercy of the company, as they could even refuse to wind their quartz. The company could also refuse to allow a contractor's men to go below ground without giving their reason. The miners were asking that wages should lie paid to the contractors' men at the companies' pay offices. His Honor questioned if the Court had power to compel the companies to pay contractors' wages. The Court had certain powers, but. it was not omnipotent. A good deal of evidence was taken. One surface labourer stated that he was paid 8s jier day by the Borough Council, and was also )>aid for four holidays in the year. He had.only been paid 7s 6d by the company, and was never paid for a holiday. A surface labourer at Waikino stated that if on a wet Saturday they could not work eight hours and a-half were deducted from the wages, and yet the hours of work on that particular day were five and a-half. A mullocker stated that he received 8; per day. The work was very heavy; he thought 8s 6d a very reasonable demand. The case is likely 'to last several days.