GOLD MINIMS UNION OF EMPLOYERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 28

GOLD MINIMS UNION OF EMPLOYERS.

ANNUAL MEETING. The eighth annual meeting 6f the Otago and Southland Gold Mining Industrial Union of Employers was held in the office of Mr "William Scott, secretary, on the 4tt inst. , % The annual report presented to the meeting and adopted was ac follows: — * "" Nine companies have been struck off the register during the year owing to liquidation, leaving 40 companies, as against 49 last year. The finances haye been well maintained, notwithstanding the falling off in membership. The year opened with a credit balance of £328 14s lOd, and closed with a credit balance of £370 4s 10d. Your executive is pleased to report that it has succeeded in getting the regulations under the Gold Buyers' Act gazetted. All gold buyers have now to be licensed, and under ■ the act shall keep a correct copy of all gold transactions in a special book, which must be open for inspection by authorised! persons. It is anticipated th-at this portion j of the act will prove beneficial to all fold mining companies. ' 'The Mining Act Amendment Act, 1908/ reotuwd. careful consideration at the hands of youar executive. Whilst it contained several beneficial -clauses granted in response- ito our requests, it also contained one or two clauses of «. somewhat drastic nature, which the execuI tive strongly opposed. The increase in the area of dredging- claims, so long advocated by this union, is a move in the right direction, and is to be commended. The clause, however, giving j:ower to the warden to impose any conditions fas* may think fit in obviating the destruction of the surface of | pastoral and agricultural lands, is far .too •drastic. Owing to the' opposition of those interested, the- bill did not pass. It will to? recommitted, however, next session, _yrhen your executive Slopes to so deal with it that it will b~e made a useful -and beneficial measure. Th<j question of taxation has also received the attention of your executive. Towards the end of the session a very strong . deputation, repressmting coal mine owners, quarry owners, brickmakers, and those connected with gold mining, waited upon the Prime Minister and the Minister , of I»ands, and strongly protested against the double, taxation now existing in connection with the winning of metals. The Prime Minister, in reply to the deputation, stated that the act in this direction was being interpreted in a way that was neverintended, *nd undertook to bring down an amending bill early next year .to relieve the extra burden -which has recently been imposed. Your executive is pleased to report that the gold mining industry has been particularly free from any disturbing elements, during the year. The only case before the court was that of the Round Hill and Ourawera Sluicing Companies at Riverton. In these cases the court granted minimum wages as follow: — Claim hands and race men, Is per hour; blacksmiths, la lid per hour. Eight hours to constitute a. shift. The executive trusts that the work done during the past year and the years preceding will so commend itself to members that they will see it to be in their best interests to support the union by every means within their power. With the present trend of things, aji<Z the trurcl-ens 'tlre.t are now being imposed on industries, organisations of employers are becomingmore and more a necessity, and the gold mining industry is no exception." The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year : — President, Mr J. C. Thomson; vice-president. Mr J. C Short; committee — Messrs G. M. Grigg H. F Neee, A. James, W. T. Talboys, H. North, Joseph M'George, and, Captain Sundstruzu.