CONCILIATION COURT.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 17, 2 March 1917, Page 4

CONCILIATION COURT.

MINERS APPLICATION FOR NEW AWARD.

A sitting of the Conciliation Court took place at Blenheim on Tuesday, commencing in the morning and concluding at 6.30 p.m. An application for a new award was made by the Wakamarina Miners’ Union, which appointed three assessors (Messrs Wickes, Goldsmith, and Smith), The three mining companies operating at Deep Creek —Dominion Consolidated, Deep Creek Gold Mining Syndicate, and the Mountain Camp Gold Mining Partnership—were cited as the respondents. The employers had nominated five assessors —Messrs Russell, Swan and L Humphries' (representing the Dominion Consolidated Company and the contractors, Messrs Humphries Bros.), Mr A. B. Alford (Mountain Camp), and Mr G. Humphries (Deep Creek). Messrs Alford and G. Humphries were prepared to consider , small concessions, but the representatives of the big company stood firm. It was pointed out that the Ohinemuri scale of wages was lower than that now being paid in the Wakamarina, and the former rates had been fixed since the outbreak of the war.

As no concessions whatever were granted by the employers the dispute will have to go to the Arbitration Court, which is not expected to sit in Blenheim for probably two or three months. The award under which the men are at present working expired some little time ago but, under the act, it still holds good until a new award is made, or unless application is made to have it cancelled. The Workers’ Union asked generally for a twenty per cent, increase of wages, a reduction of the hours of work from 47 to 44 hours a week, and for a number of minor alterations of the previous award.

MINING CONFERENCE. - Wellington, Feb. 28. The conference of representatives of mine owners and the Miners’ Federation has concluded, after an eight days’ sitting. It did not reach a settlement.