COAL AGREEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1932, Page 5

COAL AGREEMENT

GOOD PROSPECTS

OF PROPOSALS -BEING APPROVED.

(Per Press Copyright.) ■ ' ’ . - WELLINGTON, July 9. Arrangements were made! to-day 1 to pay off the volunteer, labour which was engaged at the.'Renown mine yesterday and . the proposal, to . work the Hikurangi mine by contract has .been abandoned. ■•H 1 • V

It is anticipated-by' those in a position to-bjpeak .[that the proposals tm* be uppftivld-'by an overwhelming majority. and that ratification will be secured with recourse to a bai- , lot.-. - * •;; ,' -- •

The bases of ; settlement were.:— ' (1) ‘Mire and Fire’’ : - The. men- conceded the right to the management to shorten hands an accordance with trade conditions, and the owners agreed that upon re-engagement preference should be given-to ex-employees. , The ownew undertake, to inquire into any charges .of victimisation. ' (2) Stoiie in- coal:. In' Beu of the fine .. of 3d for every . 71b of stone in skip, f iwliioh sum -was -' t*o applied ;to the \ miners'. medical 'fund, it was agreed that after suitable warnings had been issued and th® union had been advised, the . Wen wqultp be’iMabie to suspensidni or - dismissal, for a continuance of . the offence, _ A ; (3) r Dip Headings': Tire grade qt\ 1 In •10 was agreed to/' (4) "Wef places • The owners' pro- , posala were agreed to - regarding, the.rates of pay for wet places, and thpae.4 of the .wen' regarding the' qualifying time, nahiely,. six hours bank to; bank ■instead of seven ‘ hours. (5) Minimum Wage : The minimum is to be reinstated,’; subject to . certain limitations.' - \ ‘.'\ t - ' ' ' (6)\.Household ; Coal': The Suggestions . of the miners that th 6 cost of house-, hold coal. should be six- shilling a ton. w-as adopted. -. ; ; . 'There is 'no intimation regarding;'the; date "on ' which' the agreement, w;ill ter- ; miriate. . ' , . ,

’ BALLOT AT HUNTLY.

AUCKLAND;;. July 10

A ballot is being taken among the N Huntlymihefs on the proposed agree-. j ment.-t0.4 n-d The result of ;the • ballot will not; bo ■ known until to-morrow.' The feeling- • at Huntly to-day is that the, settlement will' be' accepted.’ - ’ \-' v ; ‘

ACCEPTANCE ALMOST CERTAIN. ' THE “"HIRE AND FIRE’’ CLAUSE. m - i wajja'JAa Juiv ya a<>. \ ■ ;■ yi-yi ■•’'' ', 5 'AUCKLAND. 'ju’yll./ - ■ About - 400 miners Ain —Huntly yesterday voted for the acceptance, or rejection, of the terms negotiated by the Wellington , conference. The ballot box was sealed and wili not be opened till this afternoon, after' similar ballots have been hbld in various mining, vil-., lages. ‘ ■ It is Believed that acceptance 'of, the terms is -practica'.ly certain, in which case, work will be resumed at ail' mines to-morrow. The iterma of the agreement are not officially announced, but it is known that a compromise was reached on the principal contentions of the clauses:. The hire-and-fire clause now reads as. follows : “It is agreed that the managed of evoi'y mine shall have the right to shorten hands when it .is necessary • to meet conditions. When it. is\ necessary to shorten hands, the manager shall have the right to select- the men to be retained in consideration of .their suitability for the work to be done; In. engaging men, the manager shall give v preference to ex-employees if, iiiV his opinion, they- are suitable .for the work to be. done.’’ . - \

If a union alleges’ that a manager, in the exercise of these rights, ha 3 "been guilty of victimisation, or commit, ting un injustice, the coal owners will . .be prepared to investigate it in conjunction with the miners’ organisation. If no agreement is; reached an indepeu- \ dent chairman,' to’ be mutually agreed) upon, shall be appointed, and his de- •«. cision shall be final and binding on both parties. , *.