N.Z. MINERS SEEK NEW AWARD.

Shannon News, 7 May 1926, Page 4

N.Z. MINERS SEEK NEW AWARD.

CONFERENCE OPENS NEXT WEDNESDAY. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Representatives of the West Coast Miners, will meet the owners in conference next Wednesday, to discuss proposals for a new agreement. The last agreement expired, on April 13th. Fresh demands have been drawn up by the men. These were discussed at a preliminary meeting of the coal min •. owners to-day. ; The miners are asking for a seven and a-half per cent increase on all existing tonnage rates. At present these rates range from 3/2 § to 5/6 h per ton in solid working, in the case of the Millerton, Westport, Stockton, Paparoa, Blackball mines, and from 3/4a to 5/8 per ton in the case of the Denniston mine. In pillar workings the rates range from 2/8 to 4/10 1 per ton and from 2/9 1 to 4/IIX per ton respectively. A seven and a-half per cent increase all round, is also asked for in the case of yardage rates, which at present range from , 6/11S to 9/8£ per yard in the Buller district, and from 4/2 to 8/4 in the Grey district. •

Increases of seven and a-half per cent are also sought for dealing witn bottom coal, The miners object to doing- tlioir own trucking. They also ask for 1-d per ton extra for running the face jig after twenty-two yards, and ask a seven and a-half per cent increase for timbering, and that present provisions in regard to wet places bo made to apply to all workers; one-man wet places to be cut out. They are claiming a minimum weekly wage fof all adult Workers or £4 12/6, other workers to' be paid In proportion. Increases are also asked for screen workers.

Although the demands do not definitely state that the miners are seeking a five-day week, it is generally understood that this proposal will come before, the conference. The only reference to hours in the demands is the following: “Seven hours bank to bank.” The miners are asking a fortnight’s holiday on full pay, double time for Sundays and holidays, also that payment of wages be made each week.