THE WAIHI DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 161, 3 April 1920, Page 6

THE WAIHI DISPUTE

; A PROV'ISIONALj AGREEMENT. By Telesraph—l'ress Association.Waihi, April 2. , At n conference between the nnno owners mid the Ohineiuuri branch of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, a .eel Moment of the dispute between the was reached, subject to tho approval of a general meeting of engineers. The provisional agreement provides that the mining companies shall pay . the same rate of wages and observe tho same conditions as will be fixed by the Arbitration Court at Auckland in dealing with tho engineers' dispute. The mine, owners' odor is time and a half for tli® first three hours of' overtime worked, andx. double rates for time worked thereafter. The mine ownei'B agree to pay double rates for holidays and for Sunday, and consent to a 41-hour week. There is A further offer of twopence per hour as ?,pecial bonus, as it., is anticipated that, tho Arbitration Court will grjint an increase in wages to enable the workers to meet tho increased cost of living.At the close of tho conference, Mr. Elston (organiser for the employees) made' reference to the. careful ami unbiassed manner in which the chairman ,(Mv. P. Hallv) had enoducted the proceedings. .. Later. x There are now indications of a com- v plete settlement of the strike, the mine owners having offered increases said to. he about 3s. a day over th? previous offer, of ,12s. -3d. for tin, eight-hour day. . , [ A secret ballot will be taken by the uiiio'ii to-morrow, and it is, believed that acceptance of the terms offered is supported by the unionu's delegates to the , conference. •