GOLDMINING INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22146, 27 June 1935, Page 12

GOLDMINING INDUSTRY

HEARING OF DISPUTES FURTHER STAGE REACHED CLAIMS OF ENGINE-DRIVERS A further stage in the hearing of tho industrial disputes involving wages and conditions of work in the goldmining industry was reached in Auckland yesterday, when a conference was held, under the chairmanship of Mr. W yvern Wilson, S.M., between representatives of the Martha Gold Mining Company (Waihi), Limited, and the South Auckland Engine-drivers, Winders, Motoriuen and Firemen's Union. Tho company was represented by Messrs. 11. G. Milligan, R. E. Williams and H. W. Hopkins, and the union by Messrs. E. O'Shea, J. McDerinott and A. E. ltitchio. Tho union's representatives, in submitting claims for increasing wages and improved conditions, brought forward arguments similar to those advanced when the Miners' Union met the company's representatives in conference last week. It was maintained that tho increase in the price of gold fully justified tho workers' claims.

in reply to a comparison that the union had niade with the Blackwater Mines, where wage reductions had been restored, it was stated on behalf of the Waihi compauy that tho Blackwater mines were crushing a grade of ore which would show profits nt even the normal price of gold, whereas the Waihi mines were working with an ore which showed a return only at tho present value of gold. Tho company's representatives also pointed out that there were many factors minimising the premium on gold values brought _ about by exchange rates. Since 1030 tho company had paid £261,000 in additional taxation and tho special export duty on gold, .and the result was that, taking 1930 as a normal year, the company had gained a net total benefit over tho past four years of only £51,000 a.s a result ol the premiiun on gold. No finality was reached at the conference and, as in the case of the firot dispute, the Minister of Labour will be notified. Tho workers will be required to take a ballot in tho near future to decide whether they will accept the employers' proposals.