ARBITRATION COURT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2153, 31 March 1908, Page 2

ARBITRATION COURT.

THE MUSTERERS’ AWARD. GOLD-MINING DISPUTE. Press Association. DUNEDIN, March 30. The Arbitration Court’s award in the nmsterers’ dispute provides that musterers be paid not less than 10s per -day, if engaged for less than a week, and £2 2s per week for a week or more with additional payment in the latter case of 10s for Sunday mustering. Musterere to be paid 10s per day for snow-raking. Regular farm or station hands engaged in mustering occasionally are not subject to the award. Youths may be employed as learners at not less than the following rates plus board and lodging: First year, lis 6d per week; second, 22s 6d. The proportion of learners to adult musterers to be not more than one to four. Where reasonably practicable, musterers shall be provided with good dry sleeping accommodation on hills, provision to be made for protection of bedding from the wet. Tho Union’s award comes into force on May Ist, and has currency of two years. The Union asked for an award for shepherds also, but did - not prove any necessity for such award or furnish material on which an award could be based, so the Court decided not to deal with the subject. The award in the dispute between the Southland Gold Miners Industrial Union of Workers and the Round Hill Mining Company and Ourawra Gold Mining Company provides for eight hour shifts, and the following minimum of w r ages: Claim hands and racemen Is per hour, blacksmiths 9s per shift. ‘Wages now paid by. the Round Hill Company to racemen in. excess of the rate fixed are not to bo reduced during the currency of the award, and overtime for Sundays and holidays aro to bo paid as fixed by the Mining Act Amendment Act of 1906. Youths may bo employed at not less than the following rates: 18 to 20 years 6s per shift, 20 to 21 years 7s per shift. Provision is made for under-rate workers and for preference to unionists, provided the union admits to membership, without a. ballot-, persons of good character. Entrance fee to be not more t-lian ss, and contribution not exceeding 6d per week. This clause is not to prevent employment of present workers who may not be unionists. The award comes iiito force on April 13th, and continues for one year.