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GOUDHINERS' CONDITIONS.
UPCAST SHAFTS AND HEALTH
New Machines Displacing Men.
KALGOORLIE, Aug. 29.— Further evi
dence in support of the application by the
Goldfields mining branch of the Australian
Workera' Union for a new award to cover
the. goldmining industry in Western Aus
tralia was heard by the State Arbitration
Court, consisting of Mr. President Dwyer,
Mr. R. C Bennett (employers' representa
tive), and Mr. W. Somerville (employees'
representative), in the Kalgoorlie Town
Hall today. Mr. L. J. Triat appeared for
the applicant union, and Mr. J. W. Goul
den for the Boulder branch of the Cool
gardie Federated Miners' Union, whose
claims are identical with those of the
Australian Workers' Union except in re
gard to preference to unionists. The re
spondents— the Lake View and Star, Ltd.,
and other mining companies — w;ere repre
sented by Mr. T. Maughan, assisted by
Mr. L. L. Carter.
The applicants' claim includes a demand
for a minimum wage of £5/2/6, increase
in district allowances and margins for skill,
shorter hours, all annual holidays at
Christmas time, and engagement by roster.
The cases will occupy several weeks, and
evidence will be taken by the Court at
Gwalia and Wiluna.
William Tanner, a timberman employed
on the Great Boulder Proprietary mine at
Fimiston, after explaining the work of
timbermen in opening platts and shaft
repairing, said that he considered that a
timberman was entitled -to a margin of
£1/10/ a week for skill when engaged, in
this work. He also' contended that a .tim
berman working in an upcast shaft should
work only V75 per, cent of the ordinary
working hours a week, as. the work was un
healthy and taxed the respiratory system.
All the men who had been engaged with
witness in 1923 in working in upcast shafts
were, now out of the industry suffering
from T-'lmonary complaints. The union's
claim for an ' industrial allowance of
£1/0/6 a. -week was, justified by the un
healthy ' atmosphere ? in which miners
worked, -the short period that men cot
carry ori at the work and its casual natui
- Contract and Piece Work.
.. He thought contract work was wrong,
witness said. Miners wanted a fair wage
and the abolition of contract or piece
work. He was forced to adopt contract
work, as he was unable to earn sufficient
as a wages man, With the' introduction
of a weekly wage a week's riotice for ter
mination of services would also operate,
anjd. would prevent a man being dismissed
at an hour's notice, as . at present. The
hours -for underground 'workers should be
35 hours, worked, in five shifts of seven
hours, the reduction in', hours claimed
being due to the machines now used under
ground. In 1920. when piston machines
were in operation, one machine required
two men. With the persent type of water
liner machine now. in general use only one
man per machine was required, the dif
ference in weight in the two types of
machines being about 2001b. It was held
that the men should benefit from the new
-type of machinery being' installed and
used 6iF the gold mines. The only. way
for them to benefit and not lose employ
ment -vvas by the introduction of shorter
working hours. The installation of the new
treatment plant on the Boulder Persever
ance mine alone had resulted in the dis
missal vof about 40 men, while a similar
number -had become unemployed as ' the
result of the erection of a new treatment
plant on the Great Boulder mine. The
reduction in hours would give the workers
the benefit, of modern machinery. The
claims for extra pay for week-end work
were based on the fact that most of the
work. done during the week-end could be
done' during, flie.week. When a penalty
clause ? for week-end'1 Work ' had operated
most of the usual week-end jobs had been
done during the ordinary working week.
If: a man .did work during the week-end
he was' entitled to the following Monday
off. He considered that the union's claim
that all contract or piece work should be
carried put under a signed contract was
quite fair, as it would be a protection to
the worker, who had no claim under an
oral contract, while a cavil for workine
faces every quarter would prevent any
complaints that certain workers were fav
oured. A check inspector for piece work
would- also save disputes. Employees in
coal mines and on the Kurranang wood line
hadafa'~check inspector, and the system
worked 'well. ' ' ' .
1 Iri answer to Mr'. Somerville-, Mr. Triat
said that the .union would consider paying
half the cost for a check inspector if the
companies did the same. ?-
r ? '? The Annual Holiday.
Mr. Tanner, continuing, said that there
should be five paid holidays— Christmas
day, New Year's day, Labour day, Easter
Monday, and Kalgoorlie and Boulder Cup
days in alternate years. The payment of
wages every fortnight instead of twice a
month as at present would assist 'the family
budget. The union's claim that annual
holidays for centres approximately south
of . Menzies should be .at .Christmas was
justified by ' climatic conditions, and the
fact 'that children had their annual holi
days at this period.
Mr. Tanner also .supported the union's
claims for 'engagement by roster, reen
gagement after sickness or accident, pre
ference to ? unionists, and improved first
aid service,- and opposed the respondents'
counter-claim for... the employment of
juniors, as he contended there was no work
for juniors underground, and that youths
below. 21 .years, of age who did secure .em
ployment on the mines were as capable as
the men and therefore entitled to full
wages'/ -'There was no need' to train them
in any, branches ' of underground' mining
work, 'he said, as they learnt by observa
tion and experience.' '
-Richard Wright Hill stated that he was
a leading flotation hand employed on the
Chaffers -treatment plant, Lake View and
Star group, at 16/4 a shift for. a 48-hour
week. He had to tend, three separate
plants, arid- the position demanded instant
alertness- and attention. Witness was re
sponsible for the addition or diminution
of Teagerits which' wera necessary to ensure
good results,- and his mistakes would
always be 'evident from the value of the
tailings. Experience was necessary to en
able one to judge whether the flotation
was a good cne. Witness had been em
ployed on the flotation plant since its in
ception four years ago, and had never, re
ceived more' than 16/4 per shift. The union
asked for a margin of £1/10/ above the
basic .wage, in addition to ' an industrial
allowance of £1/0/6. making in all £6/10/
a; -week. The work demanded skill, arid
it -was a responsible position.
Margins Claimed.
?'' : John ? Edwards gave evidence for the in-:
elusion in the award of the position of head
toolie. a new classification. Witness stated
that be had been employed on the Chaffers
shaft as tool carrier at 14/10 a shift, until
called upon to tike on his present posi
tion 'at an 'increased wage of 16/10 a shift.
Soon after his wage was reduced to 14/10,
as his new classification did not appear
i;u the .award- The reduction was made
up by- allowing, witness two hours' over
time a day, by which he worked 10 hours
a day.. His position was different from
that of a tool carrier, for he had the
responsibility for the. delivery of all the
steel used in the shaft, responsibility for
the store, for spare, tools and machines
underground, and for the magazine. On
an average 1,200 drills passed through his
hands each day. The new classification
would carry a margin. of 5/ a shift and
£1/0/6 district -al^yance. in addition to
the basic jvage.. making £6/5/ a week.
John 'Nicndlls. an 'electric train driver
on the Chaffers shaft, earning 16/4 a day,
claimed a margin of £1/3/4 and an allow
ance of £1/0/6 owing to the danger of his
onlling and the skill and care required to
drive a train. As it was possible, using a
bite train which would pull 10 tons, to
truck 80 tons a day over a mile, it was
obvious that the use of machinery had
displaced men. Only two men were em
ployed on a train, and no two men under
the old sy6tem could truck 80 tons a mile
to the bins in- one day.
. The -Court adjourned to' tomorrow morn
ing. .
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