THE RAND MINES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16904, 1 December 1922, Page 8

THE RAND MINES.

COMMISSION’S REPORT. l»y Telegraph Pr«:ss Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable ABSociatiou. (Received December 1, 12.40 p m.) GAPE TOWN. November 30. 'I lie report of the Mining Industry Commission, appointed to inquire intj the circumstances of the Hand strike makes a number important suggestions. Tt recommends that the offer by the C hamber of Mines of a ratio of 10.5 natives to one European employed in Iho mines should be accepted. The Commission disapproves entirely ot the proposal to classify the mines as rich or poor, with different rates of wages, according to classification. Regarding economies, the report say--rhat the experts are well paid, but tli j Commission is not prepared to sa.v excessively paid. Regarding the native** the Commission suggests a higher scale of payment, and expresses the hop' that it will be possible to find profit able employment for more European', in the mines. The wages they now receive are -not regarded extravagantly high. With reference to daily w agos the report says that no further economy is possible under this heading, nor can any further reduction be mad*in contract prices. Dealing with the question of efficiencv the report says that the standard has fallen owing to incessant interference with the man agement by shop stewards. A stop had. however, been put to this since r,he strike. Another important factor in the decrease in efficiency was the reduction of working hours, and the application of the onc-man-ons-joo principle. The Commission is convinced that compulsory arbitration is neither the best nor the mosf practicable method of settling industrial disputes and it recommends the registration of trades unions: al?o, that anv vote of the workers which may result in the stoppage of work shcrald be secret, and be conducted under Government supervision .