N.S. WALES MINERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3214, 20 October 1915, Page 25

N.S. WALES MINERS

SYDNEY, October 14. The Northern Miners’ Delegate Board has accepted the new agreement with the employers, which is still subject to the approval of the miners’ lodges. It provides for an all-round increase of 6 per cent, in wages, to become operative immediately the agreement is ratified. It also provides that on and after January 1 next a sliding scale shall again operate under which contract and off-hand labour shall receive their increases, consequent on a rise of Is in the price of coal—from 11s to 12s per ton. The southern miners are still discussing the agreement. October 17. The Maitland district miners’ lodges have rejected the agreement recently reached between the employers and the Miners’ Federation, the main objection being that it provides for the payment of Newcastle miners on a 12s and Maitland on an 11s basis. The position is somewhat critical. October 18. Besides the Maitland lodges a number of Newcastle lodges have rejected the agreement with the employers’. The miners asked for an increase of from 20 to 26 per cent., whereas the agreement provided for an increase of 6 per cent. The matter will have to be again referred to a compulsory conference.