GOLD MINERS' DISPUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23828, 7 June 1939, Page 14

GOLD MINERS' DISPUTE

NORTH AND SOUTH DISTRICTS VARIATION OF CONDITIONS SOUGHT f <Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 6. Conciliation proceedings Were commenced to-day in the dispute'between the New Zealand Gold Mines Employees' Federation and . Martha Gold Mining Company of Waihi, Ltd., and other employers over thje Northern and Westland districts, j At the outset Mr J. Rober|ts. agent for the applicants, said they sought special conditions as between the north and the south, whereasi'i the employers' counter proposals aimed, at providing the same conditions for the north and the south. It. Would be easier to come to an agreement on the general issues if the conditions set out in the claims were adopted. This brought the query: Why, then, bother about a Dominion award? To which Mr Roberts said they were not. They had not come to the court willingly, but the court had told them; straight out that they would have to dp it. As far as a Dominion award was concerned, the pQint was that in nearly all big Dominion awards there" were different conditions set . out for the different districts in New Zealand. In fact, they differed from town Ito town. Mr Roberts said he thought everyone would agree that the conditions at Waihi and Thames differed considerably from those in the rest ;Of New, Zealand. . : ' . .

. At Mr Bishop's suggestion, it was decided to discuss the claims and "ounter claims before determining.the; Question raised by Mr Roberts. ,