TAWA FLAT DISPUTE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1928, Page 1

TAWA FLAT DISPUTE

.AIR PAGE’S FINDING ACCEPTED

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 2G. Members of the Tribunal in connection with the Tawa Flat dispute were unable to agree. The Tribunal’s finding therefore is that of Hr Page, SAT. the 'Chairman, and parties having agreed beforehand that the Chairman's award was to be final. M r Page remarks that there ai*e several awards in existence, fixing minimum rates of wages payable for work somewhat similar. The most relevant are the Public Works workers’ agreements of last year and Armstrong. Whitworth’s also of last year. He fixes the minimum rates of p«v as follows: — Shovellers, Is lid per hour. Machine men, 2s 2d. Shift- boss. 2s 2d. Loco driver, 2s 2d. Outside men. Is Did. Considering the lack ol local accommodation on the job, he bus fixed a travelling allowance of Is per day. The rates are lower than some of the men were already getting the contractors paying more to get good men. Mi- Page does not think anyone should suffer.

The Tribunal did not have to decide the reinstatement issue, the contractors being prepared to start with a clean slate, and take hack the two dismissed men in the dispute, and also another man who had been dismissed.