THE HATCHET BURIED.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 600, 31 August 1909, Page 6

THE HATCHET BURIED.

END OF OTIRA DISPUTE. 'A SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE. , r-, : :-. v(By. Telegraph—Press Association.) i, , i ' Chrlstchurch, August 30. Tho'-Otira'Tonnel dispute has been-settled, •-and•.work'was resumed to-day. , , r . A conference sat yesterday for six hours, i and came! to -an amicable settlement. Those present ■ Aero Messrs. . 1 Hally , (Conciliation i Commissioner), Murdoch M'Lean, AV. . H. v- Gavin (engineer'in charge), J. {Williams (secretary to the company), Betts , and ° Fagan (union delegates), and.W. H. Hagger (representative of tho Labour .Department). ■ ...; The ■ parties •to c the dispute accepted a ,ie- ,- commendation from the Conciliation Commissioner to the cfleet .that, the union, would un-. ' dertake to indemnify .the employers for any wilful damage or .loss that. might .occur, in connection with the company's lamps so far ■as members of the; union were ; concerned. The contractors agreed to provide Goz. "*ot -carbide per shift, or equal to 21b. 4oz. for ' the ' week. v The - men: 'will 'take :the lamps ■ (which: are-numbered) to their huts, but will do refilling at the tunnel^ In regard to short-shifts on Saturday and •Monday, that question has been referred, to :the' Arbitration ,Court through tho Inspector of Factories for an interpretation .of tho > legal position. In the meantime both,parties khave' Tieon requested; to ,furnish , statements ,::-'of, fact in regard to this, matter for the in-, formation of the, Court. ( • - Interviewed in -regard to the settlement, ' 'Mr.'-Murdoch 'M'Lean' said/that he was satisfied withy the decision come to. He thought Mr. Hally had ' conducted the proceedings m, a very capable way. He also considered Messrs.:Betts ( and Fagan- very capabje men •in looking after the interests , 0f., .-the : union.-1 . He' was- very ploased that the dispute had 'been''settled, ;and that,,work would pnoo more bo started on the tunnel contract. .- Mr.. Betts .(who :.is president of-, tho, Ina-: ngahua - Miners' Union) said that , the dcci- ; jion?arrived at:would?strengthen ; i;the.'.hands', -of tho iunion, as- the .assumption ,of respon-. ■sibility for the lamps by the union would rc-i suit in increased membership. ■ Tho union would hold tho men: responsible . for wilful, loss ,or damage ;to, tho . lamps. As far • the short 'shifts were men in, vthe meantime •' would work sevenhours' 'shifts, and be paid for ; sevon: hours, v In the. event, of theArbitrationi Court deciding that 'the 1 : must recognise ■ the short, "shift, and ::pay for eight bours,' back pay would bo made good -by tho contractors. Mr. .-Betts-saidvthat.under the circumstances he considered the. settlement, a* fair one. Tho employers wore entitled "to reasonable pro? tection . against, wilful, loss or damage ' to.. lamps, vand- it . was :.the. : duty , of - the union: to 'endeavour to protect tho employers > against such ' loss in a reasonable way. •..; In. regard-to. tho hours N of labour, they could .not possibly come to a final settlement; as so many: legal issues were involved. ... ~ Both parties warmly v complimented Mr. Hally: for tho tact he ;had shown in bringing -tho' parties : together, -and in. conducting, the negotiations. They both • attribute tho termination of, the • dispute to the good offices of Mr.' 'Hally, who remains, at Otira to-day ■to 'draft tho agreementj which , ; will be signed by both parties. - There is a definite understanding' tnat the- hatchet is (to be buried', ;thati Mr. l M'Lean will Tnot. penalise unionists; and that' the' men- will return to work'- this . afternoon.' The terms ,of:- settlement are regarded-as satisfactory. ~ ■ i A' resolution was passed by a 'largo meeting this -morning," stating that the- Otira branch unanimously approved 7 of - the arrangements mado--by- Messrs. -. H. Bett svnd., M. Fagan (president and, secretary respectively. of the'vlnangahua -Miners' : Union, •Reefton)■ with Messrs. J. M'Lean and Sons (contractors of' the Otira Tunnel). A vote of thanks wsjs recorded to tho ' boardmg-house-keepers and: business people, of. Otira for their offers of-support to. the. men:"-,' Telesrapli.—Special CorrespoDdent.).. Christchurch, August &0. r The special correspondent ,of the . "Press", at ) Otira telegraphs that -the - men's': camp near the tunnel, presented, an unusual scone on - Saturday, when the . first stnke pay was paid'over'.by: the president and secretary of . the-- Inangahua Miners': Union. The sum of £300 was distributed among the men according :to ; tho> scale previously .-,decided upon. Tho process occupied practically tho ■whole.day, as.exhaustive inquiries had: to bo made from each man as. to his domestic condition. The amount allowed to married men w^s : 305.,' with 2b. 6d. extra for;each child, tho maximum paid'to any man not to.exceed £2 per, week.- Two weeks' pay was Given to -:eaoh: man. • • Tho single. men can Jive comfortably on 125.-per week, and they have the balance of their strike pay- for , pocket-money. ' The: union claim that this is the -promptest payment of strike pay on record.