GOLD MINERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 177, 29 July 1942, Page 6

GOLD MINERS

NEW AWARD ISSUED

SHIFT WORK ALLOWANCES

A new award for the Northern Gold Mines employees has been issued. Wages and hours remain unchanged except that for engineers, carpenters and service labourers the eight hours each day are to be worked between 7.30 a.m. and 4 p.m.—previously 5 p.m.

Miners are to have a sixpenny shift work allowance for afternoons, 1/ per night shift, and 2/ per night shift after the first continuous weak of night shift work. Enginedrivers benefit 1/ per afternoon or night shift, with 2/ per shift after the first continuous shift. Piece-work rates are to be fixed to enable a competent piece-worker to earn not less than 21/9 per shift. A committee is to try to adjust disputes where piece-work contracts nave earned less than 25/ per shift.

INDENT AGENT'S DEATH

CORONER RETURNS VERDICT

A verdict that death occurred by drowning on June 17, in the Auckland Harbour at Orakei, but that there was no evidence to determine whether such drowning was accidental or suicidal, was returned by the coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, to-day, at the inquest touching the death of Reginald Charles Hamilton Hooton, an indent agent, aged 61, whose body was found near Orakei wharf on July 11. Evidence was given by the wife of deceased, that when she left her home at St. Helier's, on June 27, to visit friends, her husband was preparing to go out for a walk. When she returned at 5.30 p.m. he was not at home. Witness said that for the past eight months her husband had been suffering ill health, bordering on a nervous breakdown. He had business worries, but no financial worries and had never spoken of taking his life.