THE COAL SETTLEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 March 1920, Page 5

THE COAL SETTLEMENT.

THE AGREEMENT RATIFIED WAGES AM) OTHER TERMS. By Telegraph—Press Assor'ation. Wellington, March 1. The coal miners' agreement has been ratified. The full text has been published, and the terms of the national agreement are to be embodied in all local agreements. Other terms will be settled between individual unions and the companies, and the settlements registered under the Arbitration Act. The minimum wage is 12s per shift, piece-workers to receive 50 per cent, on pre-war prices, and day workers 00 per cent., except in the case of shift-men, who receive a flat rate of 18s. Shift rates will not be amended during the currency of the agreement, which is for one year, 2d is added to the ordinary hewing rates for two-shift mines and and Is (id extra yardage in double shift places. Hay shift men are to receive Od extra on the afternoon and night shift. Not more than six pairs of miners shall be employed on the third shift except in an emergency. Three pence extra per ton shall be paid for three-shift places. All rails are to be laid by the companies, which also undertake to supply explosives at the present prices. All trucking is to be done by the company, but may be done by contract; Christie Bros., Taratu, Nightcaps, Warnmii, and Jubilee, are excepted from this, but the owners are requested to use their influence to bring them into line. ' The hours of work remain the same. Christmas and New Year holidays are from December 24 to January 4. District and national disputes committees are constituted, and it is provided that no strike, lock-out, go-slow, or unnecessary stoppage shall taKc place till the matter lias been referred to the National Committee, the decision of which is to be binding.

MEANING OF THE TERMS. WHAT THE MEN RECEIVE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. The new miners' agreement w not easily understandable by the layman. The mine owners have made a very substantial concession in wages, but they have resiste-i successfully the demand for the. abolition of the contract rvstem. They were disposed to regard this as the crux of the dispute, since t,hcy believed that the general introduction of the wages system in the mines would reduce production to a disastrous exttr.t. The increase in contract rates and in'the pay of the wages of the men by -lO per cent and 00 per Mint, respectively' on the pre-war rates Ins to be considered in the light of the fact that the men were already receiving advances totalling 30 per cent, on the orewar rates. It wss stated on behalf of the min'e owners at the original conference that the demands of the men represented an advance of 05 per cent, over the pre-war rates, a* against the M per cent, then being paid.