COALMINE IDLE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 99, 13 May 1937, Page 7

COALMINE IDLE

-Pr«*u A9ieelfttfoti.il

Sixty Men "Out^ At Kamo "WET TIME" CLAIM

(By Tiletftsoh-

WHANGAREI, Last Night. About 60 men employed by the Kamo ColHeries, Limited, at Kamo, have eeased work owlng to the refusal of the company to pay "wet'' time to uine men employed in the construction of a stone drive which ds to open up a new coai atea. Mr T. Boswell, a director of the company, eaid that the nine men were working under a contraet which, was agree'd upon about seven motfths agd and they had been averaging over 22/a day. Their reqaest now was for elght houffl, pay for six hoars' work; which would amount to an increase of about 5/* a d&y during wet work. Mr Boswell sadd the company had no intention of •varying a contraet Which it considered a liberal oue. • The company tMs morning sent a telegram to .the Minister of Mines, the Hon, P. O. Webb, who is also actingMinieter of Labour, advisdng Him of the position, but no reply has yet been received. Owing to the strike pumping in the new drive has ceased and it was necessary to-day to withdraw the lower . pump due to the inflow of water. Eortu nately, pumping in the main drive ie> performed by an electric pump, which has not been affeeted. The jnspector of awards and iaboui, Mr C. P, Collins, to-day visited th^ piifle in an effort to bring about v settlement, which has so far not provec successfut.