SURPRISE FROM MINERS

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1929, Page 9

SURPRISE FROM MINERS

ABSURD DEMANDS ISSUED

INTER-STATE DISPUTE

TO SHACKLE HIGH COURT.

By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.

Rec. 7.25 p.m.

Sydney, Dec. 27,

Surprise demands, designed, the owners say, to create an inter-State dispute, have been served by the Australasian Coal and Shale Employees’ Federation upon all western and northern' mine owners, and sent to mine owners throughout the Common* < wealth. The demands are for an increase of 9d a ton in hewing rates, with propertionate increases for contract work. The wheelers are to be paid Hid a ton extra, with a further 2d for each 40 yards over 100 yards. The minimum wage is to be not lees than 25s Id per shift and any contract worker failing to earn £5 10s a week through no fault of his own is to hav6 his wages made up to that amount. The hours are to be 40 hours a week and bank to bank. Payment is to be made weekly instead of fortnightly. These conditions are to operate from January 1 next. One owner commented that no mine in the Commonwealth could pay the wages demanded. The claims had been made a( absurd as possible to create an inter-Statf dispute before the High Court hears thf coal case on January 6. ROffiBWY. COLLIERY WORKING. VALIDITY OF NEW AWARD: ~ Rec. 9.55 p.m. Sydney, Dec. 27. The Rothbury colliery resumed work to-day after two days’ holiday. Every-, thing is proceeding smoothly. . J Chief Justice Sir Adrian Knox was ;■ engaged all day in the preliminary hear- '■ ing of evidence and argument on the mine owners’ applications to test the •_ validity of Judge Beeby’s coal award, j He is appealing to the parties to avoid technicalities, which should be left for . the High Court to deal with.