COMBINERS' WAGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18706, 12 May 1924, Page 9

COMBINERS' WAGES

-.■■■'~-- _—^ii. —__ f ; " -•'••. -.:••'- COURT issues REPORT. MEN'S CLAIM RECOGNISED... :■• ■>jH;; ,;; i ,-: \ _______ )i-i:^Mr'¥:-:^;i y: PROFITS PROHIBIT INCREASE^ . By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. ■'.'; i (Received 6.5 p.m.) Renter. ' LONDON. May 9. ,- The report of the Court of Inquiry into the. mining industry has-been published. It states: It is not really disputed that the agreement of 1921 failed ;> to: provide adequate wages in many? f of >; the poorer districts. Hie real issue is far more fundamental. ■'.■,.'-.'.■,'■••'•' The miners assert that they tire entitled i to secure - full living wages for all eriAri;' gaged in the industry, primarily out of 0/. the total profits. If these are inadequate ''„'. I it rests with the mineowners, by altering the organisation of the mines and disposal of the produce, to increase the amount. If the profits are still insufficient to pay a; living wage, the men contend that the character of the misting in-' dustry, which is the foundation of all V other industries in the country, requires that other and more fundamental measures should be adopted. The Court is not concerned with the , merits of : this contention. It is a political question. \ The Court is unable to express an opinion in regard to th& economic possibility and effect of increasing the price of coal,.or of reducing costs sufficiently to , enable the present claim to be met. From figures before the Court, however, it appears that Under the present' conditions the profits in,- particular districts are unable to meet the miners' claim fully. ■-■-■ The owners showed an aggregate, profit for the whole coalfields from October, 1921, to December, 1923, amounting to £37,318,000. ■• It is estimated that had the ■■/..: ;; miners' present claim operated- during sthis period £102,500,000 additional wages would have 4, been paid. In any : case the Sankey-' wage :of two shillings per shift would alone cost annually as'much as the whole' profits for 1923. . " : * I The report :? suggests a ; resumption of negotiations with a view to a modification of the terms of V the 1921 agreement,, which "if 'says appears to' offer immediate practicable means of effecting a new wages . agreement. opinion is expressed that • - provision '-'.a V minimum wage ; should ; have precedence over the distribution of profits, but. the committee cannot specify regarding the basis c upon which that i minimum should be paid.,,, ;: '"v