MINE IDLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22726, 12 May 1937, Page 10

MINE IDLE

DEADLOCK AT KAMO SIXTY MEN INVOLVED CLAIM FOR " WET " TIME REFUSAL BY COMPANY [nv TELEGRAPH —OWN CORUKSPONDKN'T] WHANGAREI, Tuesday About 60 men employed by the Kamo Collieries, Limited, at Kamo, have ceased work owing to the refusal of the company to pay "wet" time to nine men employed in the construction of a stone drive which is to open up a new coal area. Mr. T. Bos well, a director of the company, said this evening that the nine men were working under a contract which was agreed upon about seven months ago and they had been averaging over 22s a day. Their request now was for eight hours' pay for six hours' work, which would amount to an increase of about 5s a day during wet work. Mr. Boswell said the company had no intention of varying a contract which it considered a liberal one. The company this morning sent a telegram to the Minister of Mines, the Hon P. C. Webb, who is also actingMinister of Labour, advising Mm of the position, but no reply has yet been received. Pump Withdrawn Owing to the strike pumping in the new drive has ceased and it was necessary to-day to withdraw the lower pump due to the inflow of water, fortunately, pumping in the main drive is performed by an electric pump, which has not been affected. The inspector of awards and labour, Mr. C. P. Collins, to-day visited the mine in an effort to bring about a settlement, which has so far not proved successful. The viewpoint of the men concerned is that the .Government some time ago intimated that the standard of work and "wages should revert to that of 1931, which makes provision for "wet" time. An agreement which was j entered into between the company and the men had actually expired last December. and no other agreement has been made and consequently the conditions of work are not registered with the Arbitration Court, although the men contend that the original agreement provided for eight hours' pay for six hours' work when wet working conditions were encountered. Men's Decision "The men took every possible step to settle the dispute by legal means," said a spokesman, "but the company refused to meet us. Mr. Collins tried to bring the matter to finality and Mr. R. E. Price, conciliation commissioner, came to Kamo from Auckland, but the company still refused to meet us. We were therefore left with no alternative but to strike, and the men as a body have decided not to resume work until the company agrees to pay 'wet' time." The men employed in this mine were on strike some months ago regarding the payment of a 10 per cent increase in wages alleged to have been paid to miners employed in the Waikato. It is not likely that the present trouble will spread to other mining ventures in this district.