LABOUR TROUBLES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13725, 15 April 1908, Page 7

LABOUR TROUBLES.

WAGES OF THAMES MINERS. A GENERAL INCREASE. [BT TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Tuesday. A coilfeeence between certain delegates from the mineowners of the district and the Thames Miners' Union was held today, at which most of the principal-mines from Karangahake to Coromandel were represented. The conference resulted in an amicable arrangement being arrived at between the two parties. The general conditions of the old agreement were adhered to as a whole, with one or two small alterations relating to enginedrivers' hours. The scale of wages was generally increased all round by 6d per day, miners' wages beii.g increased from 8s to 8s 6d, with a proportionate increase in all branches. Enginedrivers in charge of winding engines were raised from 9s to 10s. ' During the course of the discussion, Mr. H. H. Adams, who represented a number of companies, stated that the reason why he was agreeable to,concede the increase to the Thames miners was that he considered they were fully entitled to as high wages as was paid in the op-country districts, on account of the conditions under which they worked. The conditions were much worse than existed in any of the out district mines, both as regards health and the wear and tear of clothes and boots.

STRIKERS RETURN TO WORK. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION,] Hastings, Tuesday. All the drivers who struck yesterday, with the exception of one man, returned to their respective carts this morning. One master baker agreed to pay the wages demanded, but the other bakers declined to consider the men's demands. In the case of the man who was not taken back, the employer states that lie had decided to dispense with his services prior to the strike. It is probably due to the interview which Mr. Culver, ' the factory inspector, had with the men yesterday that the strike was terminated. CUTTING THE PAINTER. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Westpobt, Tuesday. The Denniston Miners' Union has instructed its secretary to take immediate steps to cancel the union's registration under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act.