MINERS' WAGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23969, 20 May 1941, Page 8

MINERS' WAGES

GUARANTEE SCHEME NEW BRITISH ORDER STABILITY OF EMI'LOYMENT 11! ml. (T.'iO p.m.) LONDON, May tss A guaranteed wage for coalminers, subject to the worker's willingness to perform any services reasonably required, is one provision of the Essential Work (Coal Mining Industry) Order, 1041, which mainly follows the same lines as the Essential Work (General Provision) Order, 1041, says a British official wireless message. The order is designed to maintain and make the most effective use of the labour force of the coalmining industry and ensure for the men stability of employment with satisfactory conditions. It. includes restrictions on the right of employers to discharge workers, and of workers to leave employment. An important feature, however, is that permission to leave employment will always he granted to enable a worker to take up employment in another colliery. For time workers, the guaranteed wage will be the appropriate time rate for normal working hours. For piece workers, it is their piece work earnings and payment at tho appropriate time rate for all shifts or parts of shifts normally worked by them lor which work is not available, periods less than one hour in any shift being disregarded. The order makes provision lor dealing with absentees, lateness, failure to comply with a lawful order, and behaviour calculated to impede effective production.

REFUGEES IN BRITAIN SHARE IN WAR EFFORT AID IN MANY SPHERES . ' (Reed. 0.30 p.m.) LONDON, May IS The contribution made to the war effort by 250.000 adult foreign refugees in Britain was described by the Bishop of Chichester in a broadcast, says a British official wireless message. These men and women, the bishop said, fled here because they could not tolerate life under the Nazi regime, because they wanted to help Kngland, as tho only country left in Furo'pe that could lead them back to freedom. "There are scores of ways in which the help of these German and Austrian refugees is being given," he said. "Ahunt 2000 are serving as soldiers in the Pioneer Corps. Women are being welcomed as members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, and under Government training schemes. Men and women are going into factories and are engaged in national training to help the war effort. Over 1.000 are employed in agricultural work, where they are doing so well that farmers are calling on more and more of this refugee labour. "There are also doctors, dentists, nurses and clergy, all helping. In addition, we have some 250 picked scholars using their brains for the promotion of learning in Britain. There is alyo a body of artists, musicians and writers helping to keep the flame of culture alive." The bishop added that he would like to see refugee writers and political workers systematically used to encourage opposition in Germany itself, to show tlie German people the falseness of Hitler and recall them to their true Spiritual leaders.

WAR WEAPONS WEEK FLYING START IN LONDON (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, May is First reports of London's War Weapons Week, which opened yesterday, are extremely encouraging, says a British official wireless message. Lord Mottisfone. chairman of the National Savings Committee, said: "The results are far more favourable than r.e dared hope." Westminster has been promised well over £1,000,000. Hnnipstead reached £300,000 during Saturday morning, while Stepney, aiming at £250,000 for the week, has already been guaranteed that sum. PARCELS FOR PRISONERS (Heed. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 17 During the fortnight ended May the Red Cross and the Order of St. John war organisation delivered to the post office 210,727 parcels for war prisoners in Germany, says a British official wireless message. This consignment consisted of 1N2.202 parcels of food, 1607 of clothing, 11,052 of invalid comforts. 6205 of tobacco and 5001 sent by next of kin. CRICKET AND BATTLES LONDON, May li) Recent news that troops in the Middle East have been playing cricket matches in between battles is followed hv a report received by Lord's cricket ground, London, that the famous test player, W. It. Hammond, made 91 runs and that F. R. Brown is still scoring frcclv in these matches.