BANK-TO-BANK CLAUSE. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 53

BANK-TO-BANK CLAUSE. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

GREYMOUTH, February II

A oase of considerable interest to tho mining community was heard at the Magistrate's Court to-day, when two miners employed jn the Blackball mine were charged with disobedience of the manager's instructions.

Mr M. Hannan appeared for the prosecution, and Mr W. J. Joyce for the defence.

The facts as stated by Mr Hannan were that some years ago half an hour's crib time was allowed, but at the request of the Miners' Union this time was reduced to a quarter of an hour, thus enabling th« men to leave the mine a quarter of an, hour earlier. When the eight hours' bank-to-bank principle was placed on the Statute Book the miners reverted to half an hour, which meant that the actual working time was a good deal less than seven hours. The manager, Mr Hannan continued, ordered that only a cyuarter of an hour's crib time be observed, but this instruction was disobeyed.

Mr Joyce raised the point that the court had no jurisdiction. The matter was really one for the Arbitration Court to deal with. He quoted several authorities in support, and mentioned many sections of the Justices of the Peace, Mining, and Industrial Conciliation- and Arbitration Acts, which, he contended, fully bore out his contention.

Mr R. H. Turion, S.M., said he proposed to reserve his decision on the point raised.

In reply to Mr Hannan, who stated that the matter was a very serious one for the miners affected, the magistrate stated that his -decision would probably be given on •Pridaj.