Mining’ Affairs.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 22 January 1915, Page 3

Mining’ Affairs.

The deputation, consisting’ of Messrs Morris, O'Brien and Fletcher, who proceeded to Auckland last week to confer with the Directors of the Taupiri Coal Mines as to the hewing rates to be paid in the mines in future, returned on Saturday night and made their report to the Union on Monday. The conference lasted five hours and the questions at issue were gone into from every possible viewpoint, with the result that the deputation had to lay before the men an offer to raise the hewing rate to two shillings and sevenpence per ton whilst the oil safety lamps were in use, whith a reduction to two shillings and sixpence when Electric Safety Lamps are provided. The Company provides lights in each case, and when the Electric Lamps are installed, a Testing Lamp also. The present rise of twopence a ton is retrospective, that is to say, the extra rate will be paid on all coal wan since the disaster.

The deputation also arranged for the company to purchase and supply to the men, explosives at cost price, thus giving the miners’ the advantage of the retailers profit. The report having been laid before the men, was fully discussed and finally adopted , the rate as Six, l to continue till the expiration’of the present award. The settlement must be regarded as a very satisfactory one, and the members of the deputat tion are to be congratulated on the excellent result of their efforts, which will have such an effect on the general business of the Town. Ever since the Disaster a feeling of uncertainty has checked business to a large extent, but now that the hewing rate has been settled, people will settle down to live their lives as formerly and no doubt business will resume its old time steady character. We understand that the Electric Lamps are to be obtained as soon as possible. These lamps give a much brighter light than those in use at the present, aid when installed the output of coal will no doubt be very much larger than at present.