GOLD MINERS' PAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22145, 26 June 1935, Page 10

GOLD MINERS' PAY

UNSETTLED DISPUTES WAIHI MEN'S DEMANDS ARGUMENTS FOR INCREASE EMPLOYERS' OFFER REFUSED [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Two important industrial disputes, involving rates of wages and conditions of work in the goldmining industry, have been under consideration this month. The Waihi Gold Mining Company—now the Martha Gold Mining Company (Waihi), Limited—and the Black water Mines, operating on the west coast of the South Island, are the companies concerned. Conferences and conciliation councils have been held, but the parties have failed to arrive at an agreement. In the case of the Martha Company the workers cited the employers under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act, and a conference was held in Auckland last week, with Mr. Wvvern Wilson, S.M., presiding. The present position is that in the terms of the law each party has made a recommendation to the Minister of Labour*. Under the Act the workers are re* quired to take a ballot in the near future to decide whether they will accept the employers' proposals. Increased Price of Gold

It is understood that an offer wa3 made by the Martha Company of an increase on the existing wage rates. The employees' representatives definitely refused this offer, claiming thai it was too small. They stated that the Waihi company paid a dividend last, year of 40 per cent on its nominal capital. The workers' representatives claimed that the men should be entitled to some share in the abnormal increase in the price of gold, and to participate in the benefit that the company is receiving through the high rate of exchange. It was further stated at the conference that although the Waihi-com-, pany had not restored the wage cut* imposed by the Court of Arbitration in 1931, the Blackwater mineowners had agreed to restore all cuts after the mine Ijad been idle for 14 weeks last year, the men at that mine refusing to accept the rates of wages for which the Waihi tnen were now working. Comparison of Wage Rates It was submitted by the workers' representatives at the conference that when the Court of Arbitration reduced wages in 1931 workers in both mines were receiving higher rates of pay than they were receiving to-day, and this when, the price of gold was £4 4s lid per fine ounce. The workers' representatives argued that if the companies could afford such wage rates with gold at the price mentioned they ought to be in a position to offer a substantial increase in wages with gold quoted to-day at £7 (sterling) per fine ounce. No finality has been reached in regard to either dispute. It is understood that the men employed at the Blackwater mine will now -follow the lead of the Waihi workers and cite the Blackwater company under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act.