"BACK THE ATTACK"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25672, 21 October 1944, Page 9

"BACK THE ATTACK"

Sir,—lt Is stated in your Issue of October 19 that the Waikato coal miners have acceded to the request of the Mining Controller (Mr C. H. Benney) to work on Labour Day. That being so, the public should be made aware of the conditions of payment for miners who work on that day. As this day is a recognised holiday, the owners have to pay the workers, first, a day’s pay (265) for no work at all. Then, on a tonnage rate, the miner is paid, say, £2 (and this may be considered a low estimate) for his actual work. Then comes the Government's subsidy (War Expenses Account) of 26s for the holiday, making the pleasing amount of £4 12s for the day. The soldier receives 7s 6d per day and no overtime if he risks his life for 24 hours in the day. These payments to miners are retrospective from the beginning of May, when the new agreement came into operation.—l am, etc., Hats Off. [Our correspondent has omitted to mention the pay which the truckers, in some cases boys In their teens, will receive. A correspondent in the Southland Times rectifies the omission: “ The truckers will be paid 24s holiday pay. £2 contract wages, and the Government subsidy of 245, a total of £4 Bs. On this day a number of mine workers will be attending the Gore races. They are good sports. At Nightcaps 27 racehorses are owned and/or trained, principally by mine workers. There will be a shortage of truckers for the back shift, and some will be asked to work a double shift. These will draw £8 16s for the double shift."—Ed. O.D.T.]