COAL-MINERS' TROUBLES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14281, 1 August 1908, Page 10

COAL-MINERS' TROUBLES

CONFERENCE OF TARATU MINERS. PROSPECTS OF AMICABLE SETTLEMENT. ' (Pnou Our Special Reports*.) I KAI TANG ATA, July 31. At Kaitangata' 10-night the Taratu miners mot their employers in conference, as recommended by the Court of Arbitration, to discus with them the conditions under whichthcy at present work. Mr A. Weston (district president of the Miners' Union) was chairman, and the following were present:—Messrs C. Speight, G. R. Checseraan, and 1). B. Waters (of the Taratu Coal Company). A. Forbes (district ■secretary of the Miners' Union), D. llumin, J. Brown, and G. Naumann, local secretary (tho Taratu miners' delegates). Tho main differences between Ihe two parties' references are in balloting. The men ask that 75 per cent, of the men shall ballot for special places, and the employers demand 25 per cent In-shift waged the men demand 11a, and the employers offer 10s. Tho men ask that all coal be Tilled with shovel and weighed, and that they be paid fov gross weight, while the employers eay that tiiree boxes of the size now in use must constitute a ton—that is, they offer to pay by measurement only. The employors demand that all coal shall bo filled'with the harp and paid for at the rate of 3s 3d per ton, whilo coal to be filled with the shovel is to be paid for at 2s 9d per ton; boixls to l» 12ft wide and 7ft high. The minors demand that bords be not les than 14ft wide and 7ft high, and worked'in single shifts at 3e od per ton for shovel-filled coal. If two shifts are worked, 3d per ton extra is demanded, and if'three shifts, 6d per ton extra. The company requests tliat headings be 6ft by 7ft, to be paid for at os per yard extra. The miners'want headings to be 6ft high for which they shall bo paid at the rate of 3s 6d per ton, yardage rates to be—One shift 7s per yard, two shifts Bs, three shifts 9s. The owners ask that the levels be 7ft by 6ft, and that tho yardage be ss. The men ask that the levels bo 6ft, to bo at tlie rate of 3s 6d for shovel-filled coal, with yardage rates of—One shift Es, two shifts 6s, throe shifts 7s. The employers ask that the 'stentons be 9ft by 7ft. and the yardage rates to bo 4s per-yard in addition to tonnage rates; less than 9ft to be at/level rates, and more than 12ft lo be a hord. Tho men ask that the stentons bs Bft wide for. shovel-filled coal at 3s 6d per ton, with yardage rates at 6s for the fir:t'3oft, over that headings rates to be paid. The company wants pillars sft and'over to be paid for at 4d per ton less than bord .-ates, while tho miners ask for 3s 6d per ton for shovel-filled coal rakon from pillars 6ft high and worked in two shifts, with a gradual inoreaso in rates if the height is reduced. Tho company asks for 20s for two yards in breaking awav bords, while tho men want level yardage rates' in addition to tonage rate. The company asks that the miners truck coal, while the miners domand that the company does 60. In trucking, the mon ask for an increase of Is to Is 6d per shift over the company's demands. The men ask for preference to unionists, while the company says it will not discriminate against unionises. The miners in addition ask for 9s per shift for tippers and labourers, while youths employed above ground are to be paid wages rinsing from 4s per day. The conference did noi commence until late, and then consideration of tho clauses was proceeded with very slowly. The whole of the miners' balloting clauses were agreed to with a few adjustments. The employers agreed to accept the men's demand for 75 per cent, .of men to ballot for special places. Tho question of payment by measurement or weight, rates of payment for bords, headings, levels, stentons, pillars, acd crosscuts, and (nicking were all held over, as neitheisr.ide was prepared to forgo its demands in any particular. The clause respecting deficient places was agreed to practically on ths lines of the men's reference. .It was resolved that wet places shall be paid for at shift wages for six hours, and' shall mean where water is underfoot or dripping on the men from tho roof to an inconvenient extent. It is proposed that when the.minor points are settled the bigger questions, hi which piece rates, trucking, and the weighbridge are involved, will bo returned to and thoroughly argued out, Both sides aroJtopeful of an amicable settlement either very late to-night or to-morrow. The- Kaitangata conference will be gono on with to-morrow. THE BRUCE TROUBLE. PRACTICAL SETTLEMENT GAINED. The conference between the Bruco Coalmining Company and representatives of the ,Qoal-miners' Union on Thursday at Milton ires' continued from 10 a.m. till 10 p.m., when it was adjourned till 9 o'clock yosterday morning. By noon such an understanding had been arrived at as would admit of the results hoine announced to a full meeting of the miners at the pit. Wo understand that the conclusion come to has practically sattled tho whole dispute with tho exception of two points, and that in respect of these points (the weighing clause and truckers' wages) it has been mutually agreed to abide by tho decision of tho Arbitration Court in the reference mado to it. ) Mr A. Weston, president of tho Miners' Union, occupied the chair during the whole of the conference at Milton, and wo are advised that the whole of tho proceedings were marked by a total absonce of bickering. Tho employers aro agreed that tho result of the conference is duo to tho fact that they wore mot in a conciliatory spirit by the union's delegates. Messrs H eston and Forbes having explained the position to tho miners, both sides yesterday drew up a formal agreement enibwrving the terms arrived at. ONE CAUSE~ADVANCED. (Fnoa Our Own Cobbesfondeht.) GREYMOUTH, July 31. The Star says that the " sole objection to eight liours underground working appears to be that it is regarded as an unduo interference with tho Arbitration Court. Ba that as it may, the fact remains that had tho court given effect to the eight hours bank-to-bank principle, instead of listening to legal quibbles, much cause for discontent would have been removed, and tho system of arbitration would not now bo viewed with so much disfavour by the unionists themselves. Now, however, that the law is to l>o made effective the amendments should bo passed, thus ensuring to the miner that which he is justly entitled to, and at the same time removing si .contentious point which has caused much soreness on the West Coast.