STATE MINES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2132, 25 April 1914, Page 5

STATE MINES

CASE IN AURITRATIOX COURT, tßy Tclcsraph.— Pjoes Assoiialion.) • c.reymouth, April 24. Tlic hearing of evidence in tho_ State coalmine dispute was concluded in tV Arbitration Court. Mr. Coppersmith, in addressing the Court for the union, s.airl tho only exemption tho union took to the old ac'roe■ment was that the men wanted a slight rise for pillar workings, and 11b. . in* scad of 10s. a day for pumpmen. Tho union's proposals in every other respect wore to allow the- old condition* to r-'fi.- ! ffl-ain Tho present system of trucking, [ which was alleged to haw beesi responsible for tte 191-3 Joss, was- tho ■Samo as that existing in: all cite mines, afid in voguo ou the West- Coast for tho last 40 years. Ho asked that the old cavil clause should remain, and objected to tlw special .or second cavil proposed by the management- with regard to special or dangerous ntaces, contending" that ilie .management •should not bo given the absolute riglit to pick men to go into tli© first cavil, or into special places. Ho also asked the Court to fix a ttrefetenco clause. During the union's evident.-. the averages of earnings put in hv the management were .attacked, iij that' pay tickets weto produced show* ing that where ine-n weffi credited with 15 shifts they had worked Ifi. For the union It was contejideisl that this system of calculating' gave a false averago of pay per shift, although the total Earnings wore correct. ] Mr.- Kimbeil, for tho Mines Department. said that his rastni.ctio.ns_ were that tho Department had no dosi-ro to mako radieal .reductions -in tho toon's' fiarniti-Es. Alt that they desjfed was j that- th-» men should bs placed in a position to make reasonable. Wages. Tho average had iseeu 2s, to 38. mwo than j vrt other coalmines, thus putting tho | State mine in a position' that iftade it u-naWe to- compete fairly. with other ■commanies. Tho loss for the year -ottd- ; ed Match 31. 1913, luid. been over. £7000, and for the subsequent half-. year over £4(500. With regard td_ the statement liy the; union that the mino was ftses't treacherous to work in, Mr. Kimbell referred to a report » which it wa.s stated that the fatalities in one year were four only uiidcfgromid, and five on the surface. His Honour said that iho Court would snake its award £5 Saoii as possible. They might reijuii'-e vioiiio days, &s .the Court had to jwoce&d on Saturilay to Ol'irwtchu.rch and Dunediii. The proposals: for a separate award: for tlio new Liverpool jnme (the new State co-Ufery now being opened up, and named after the Governor) are now being hoard.