EARNINGS OF MINERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 14, 13 October 1942, Page 2

EARNINGS OF MINERS

NOT MAKING BIG MONEY

r r M!•:■-SIIEETS ANALYSED

"4'lie impression prevails among the general public that the coal miners at Huntly make big money, but that is wrong," said a mine" employed at the Pukemiro mines. He displayed time-sheets to prove that assumptions need a little mo""scrutiny. One instance quo'i'd was o? a single worker operating lor shifts at 12s. a shift. The total earning was £! 19s .xl. and lioin I his had to be deducted Social Security. tax 12s (id, doctor Is, and carbide 13s (i,, leaving a n„?t balance of £4 4s lidAnother docket showed a production of 21 tons, paid for at the rate of 3s Gi4d, £3 l(>s lid; four proprf cost 2s. total £3 15s ltd plus 10 per cent, 7s 7d, total £4 3s (kl. Stop,-* pages were Social Security 8s Bd, doctor 2s, rent ss, powder and fuseMs Bd, total £1 10s: Id, leaving a balance of £2 13s 2d for two men. This last docket was for "work done for 2% shifts during the dispute period; the other docket was for periods during August. The miner pointed out. that the amount of powder and fuse used indicated the hardness ol the place in which the miners were operating. Since the miners have to supply their own powder and fuse it was. he said, hard.y like;y that- they would Avasle it.