ARBITRATION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2170, 8 June 1914, Page 8

ARBITRATION

" THK LIVEIU'DOLCOIiLiRRY. ■:■'■ (Byr'tVlesraiilt-—l'rcss Asssctation.!- .' Cre.ynio.gtii, Juno 6. The Aj-riilfntwn Gotirt's award for the 'Liverriool (State) Colliery is to hsiid. It. is the iirst industrial agi'eo-niont-.i'nr this mine, work hoiiis previi)us!y Vlonc on wages. ' The award is for iweivo -mouths. Only tuo hewing nitos have bnon lixcJ. -, There are soni-a sliuht iiwrciißes in jiocordance with tire proposals of the employers. As the mine is not vet proiwrly dev-t'lopcd, it was im))assi!i!e for the Court to arrive :xt a satisfactory conclusion whether tire rates fixed would, enahle the miners to earn an average ivflge- crstial to. that earned in other nimos in the district. The Court,'therefore,'.provided a mmimnm wage of IBs. (id. per 'shift. 'While this fs sufficiently high to ensure a miner a fair living wage, yet it is low enough to offer a' miner every imhicnmeiii, to give. the hewing rates a fair and j:ca.sonab)t> trial. The Court svas not able to ilctd with the much-debated ?l!iestion of estra payment for the majotity of mines in Vi'estlaiid, hut there was no good reason why the State mine should he placed at a disadvantage in tin's respect. The award provides that when miners aro required to lvork three shifts m any part of the mine 2d. per ton additional torn-age rate shall be paid. Miners working in wet places are to work sis hours' shifts from hank to bank. It" from water or any other difficult)' itt such places they Cannot earn wag-PS they aro to he paid J2s. per shift, _ 'The award is a lengthy one. and ocirpies- over four columns in the local Press.