INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22607, 26 June 1935, Page 8

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

GOLD MINERS' WAGES NO AGREEMENT REACHED (Peb United Pbess Association) WELLINGTON, June 25. Two important industrial disputes have been under consideration this month, involving rates of wages and conditions of work in the gold mining industry. The Waihi gold mining industry, now the Martha Gold Mining Company (Waihi), Ltd., and Blackwater Mines on the West Coast, are the companies concerned. Conferences and conciliation councils have been held, but the parties have failed to arrive at an agreement. It is understood that the offer made by the Martha Gold Mining Company is for an increase of Id a day on the existing wage rates. The employees' representatives definitely refused this offer, pointing out that the Waihi company paid a dividend last year of 40 per cent, on its nominal capital. The workers' representatives claimed that the men should be entitled to some share in the abnormal increase in the price of gold and to participate in the benefit the company is receiving through the high rate of exchange. It was further mentioned at the conference that, although the Waihi company had not restored the wages cuts imposed by the Court of Arbitration in 1931, the Blackwater mine owners had agreed to restore all cuts after the men had been 14 weeks idle last year, the men at the Blackwater mine refusing to accept the rates of wages for which the Waihi men were now working. Their reason was also the increased priceof gold. No finality has been reached in either dispute, and it is understood that the men cmployed at the Blackwater mine will now follow the lead of the Waihi workers and cite the Blackwater Company under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act.