COAL DISPUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21694, 12 July 1932, Page 8

COAL DISPUTE

MINERS ACCEPT NEW TERMS CONTENTIOUS CLAUSE MODIFIED WORK TO BE RESUMED TO-DAY V. (Peb United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July 11. By a majority of nearly four to one the miners of the Waikato and Hikurangi coalfields decided to-day to accept the settlement of the northern coal mines dispute which was effected by their delegates at the oonference with the Minister of Labour (Mr A. Hamilton) and representatives of the coal mine owners in Wellington last Friday. This means that the miners will go back to work in the Waikato and Hikurangi mines to-morrow morning after a stoppage of ’five weeks and three days. The voting was by means of a secret ballot, which was taken among the miners resident in Huntly yesterday, and among the miners resident at Pukemiro, Rotowaro, Renown, and Hikurangi to-day. The ballot papers read: —“Are. you in favour of accepting the new agreement?” and the result was as follows: —• Yes .. .... .. .. 527 No .. .. 158 Majority for acceptance, 369

The total number of valid votes cast numbered 685. Although the separate figures for each mine are not available, it is understood that the majority for acceptance was much larger in the Waikato unions than at Hikurangi, where the settlement was agreed to by only a small margin of votes. The terms of the agreement are /not officially announced, but it is known that a compromise was reached on the principal contentious clauses. The “ hire and fire” clause now reads, as follows: —“It it agreed that the manager of every mine shall have the right to shorten hands, when necessary, to meet trade conditions. When it* is necessary to shorten bands, the manager shall have the right to select the men to be retained, in consideration of their suitability for the work to be done. In engaging men, the manager shall give preference to ex;employeea if, in his opinion, they are suitable for the work to be done.”

If a union alleges that a manager in the exercise of these rights has been guilty of victimisation or committing an injustice, the coal owners will be prepared to investigate it in conjunction with the miners organisation, and if no agreement is ' reached an independent chairman, mutually agreed upon, shall be appointed, and his decision shall be final and binding on both parties. . . , •

It is understood that the basis of settlement reached by the conference in Wellington was as follows; 1. “Hire and fire”: The men conceded the right to the management to shorten hands in accordance with trade conditions, and the, owners agreed that upon re-engagement preference should be given to ex-employes. The owners undertake to inquire into any charges of victimisation. 2. Stone in coal: In lieu of the fine of 3d lor every 71b of stone in skip, which sum was to be applied to the miners’ medical fund, it was agreed that after suitable warnings had. been issued and the union had been advised, the men concerned would be liable to suspension, or disniissah for a continuance of the offence. 3. Dip headings: The grade of 1 in 10 was agreed to. , 4. Wet places: The owners’ proposals were agreed to regarding the rates of pay for wet places, and those of the men regarding the qualifying time, namely, six hours bank to bank instead of seven hours.

5. Minimum wage: The minimum is to be reinstated, subject ,to certain limitations. : 6, Household coal: The suggestions of the miners that the cost of household coal should be 6s a ton was adopted. There is no intimation regarding the date on which the agreemnt will terminate. /