COAL MINERS’ DISPUTE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3768, 1 June 1926, Page 32

COAL MINERS’ DISPUTE.

AGREEMENT DRAWN UP. RATIFICATION AWAITED. WELLINGTON, Maj 30. Regarding the complete agreement reached on the subject of wages and conditions governing the employment of miners on the West Coast at the conference between representatives of the coal mineowners and the men, an agreement was drawn up and is at present before the individual unions for ratification. Generally there is little change in the terms from the old agreement. Tonnage and yardage rates iemain the same, and as regards other rates of pay there are only one or two minor alterations. Regarding the hours of work the following clause was agreed to:—Working time shall be 11 days per fortnight* with payment for Saturday, which shall bo an idle day. Tho men required to work on the pay Saturday shall be paid at ordinary daily rates. The only hour 3 worked per day shall be: For underground workers eight hours, bank to bank; for surfacemen, eight hours (exclusive of meal time). The agreement is to come into force at the commencement of the first pay period after ratification, and will continue until April 30, 1928.