WORK AND WAGES

Southland Times, Issue 18836, 1 June 1920, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES

ONE CIG UNION SCHEME. CONFERENCE AT MELBOURNE. By ielegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright./ t .iUslta.jc.n and N.Z. Cable Association.,

MELBOURNE, May 31. (Received June 1, 1.0. A.m.i Iho One Big Union Conlerence is composed mainly oi delegates of the rathvaymen, waterside workers, and coal miners. " The oilier big unions arc poorly represented. It was decided to launch department.-, of transportation and mining, the forimr embracing the railwaymcn anil watcr.siders, and the -alter the coal and shale workers. The conlertuee represented 64,0U0 workers. KO WAR GRATUITY FOR SEAMEN. A RETALIATORY DECISION. SYDNEY, May 31. (Received May 31, 5.5 p.m.i The seamen have decided that the union shall withdraw from all future naval and military activities. This decision is the result of the Government's refusal to pay the men a war gratuity.

AFFAIRS IN NEW ZEALAND

TARATU MINERS ON STRIKE

(Per Untied Press Association./

DUNEDIN, May 31

In accordance with notice /.riven on Friday last, the miners working at the Taratu coal mines went on strike to-day. It appears that when the new agreement of three months ago came into operation, granting a 50 per cent, increase on pre-war rales, the increase of threepence /ter ton granted the miners in 1018 was discontinued. A meeting of the men was held this evening when it was decided to adhere to the previous determination. It appears that the strike is not 100 popular with some of the men. Two or three have already ap-

plied for work at the Kaitangata mine, and will commence there to-morrow morning. Altogether Jify men are allcetcd. THE ROTOWAUU MIXERS. ANOTHER DAY OFF. AUCKLAND, May 31. The miners employed by the Taupiri Coal Company who work at the Rolowaru mine had another day off to-day, the reason given by the head office being that the men refused to wait for the train that conveys them daily to and from the mine, and which was half an hour late this morning. This train leaves iluntly every morning at 7 o’clock with the men for the Roto want and Pukemiro mines. This morning, owing to heavy fog at liuntiy in the night, considerable difficulty was experienced in getting up steam on the engine, and the train was not ready to leave until about ten minutes to 8. The result was that the Rotowaru men decided not to wait for the belated engine, and returned to their homes. About eighty of the Pukemiro miners also refused to wait for the train and went home rather than start work half an hour late. The action of the Rotowaru miners means the loss of 300 tons of eoal, this being the average output of that mine, while the loss of coal from the Pukemiro mine for the day will, be in the vicinity of 200 tons, making, a total loss in coal of approximately 500 tons on the output of the two mines for the day.