GOLDMINERS' WAGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18295, 11 January 1923, Page 6

GOLDMINERS' WAGES.

REDUCTION BY THE COURT. UNION MEMBERS TO MEET. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WAIHI. Wednesday. There is much disappointment among the miners and other workers about the mines and batteries at the decision of the' Arbitration Court to further reduce wages. At __ a. meeting of. the executive of the Miners", Union last night it was decided to hold a meeting of members to discuss the position on Saturday morning next at 10 o'clock. This will be preceded by a meeting of representatives of the unions affected on Friday night. The secretary of the Miners' Union, Mr. A. Parker, while not speaking officially for members, has given his own views on the subject. He said he considered that the men had been harshly treated in being asked to accept a reduction as such so far, he understood, had never been imposed en any other branch of workers in New Zealand. • The mine owners, in submitting their case to the Court in April last, had contended that a reduction should be made because of the fact "that the industry was not prospering, but he would point' out that companies in their most prosperous days, when they were returning as much as 80 per cent, in annual dividends to shareholders, had not offered to increase the wages of the men, but had fought them at every turn with a view to having their wages, which were then very low, still further reduced.