DREDGE WORKERS' DUTIES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22504, 12 September 1938, Page 3

DREDGE WORKERS' DUTIES

FINDING OF ARBITRATION COURT

An oiler on an electric dredge who is required to operate switches on the motors ij not a motbrman in terms of the Westland gold dredge and alluvial gold mines employees’ award. This finding of the Arbitration Court has been given by Mr Justice O’Regan on a question involved in an action by the Inspector of Awards at Greymouth against the Argo Gold Dredging Company, Ltd., of Reefton. The judgment said that unfortunately the award contained no definitions of the terms used to describe the classes covered, and the Court had to look to the custom in the district. It was admitted that the “greaser” of the non-elec-tric dredge was synonymous with the “oiler” of the electric dredge. The worker concerned had no knowledge of motors and was not qualified or allowed to make adjustments to the motors.or do anything to then except work the controlling switches. His duties were substantially the same as those of a greaser or stackerman on a non-electric dredge. The greaser worked the machinery by moving a lever, and the oiler worked it by moving a switch. The Court was not satisfied that this slight difference in duties was enough to entitle the worker concerned to be classed as a motorman and paid at a higher rate.