CABLE NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2449, 13 March 1909, Page 5

CABLE NEWS.

THE BROKEN HILL DIFFICULTY. s. ARBITRATION COURT. JUSTICE HIGGINS’ AWARD. United Press Association —Copyright. (Received March 12, 9.38 p.m.) MELBOURNE, March 12. Justice Higgins occupied tivo hours in delivering the Arbitration Court Award in the Broken Hill dispute. Basing the award on the deduction that the n-ost of living was £2 4s od on the Barrier and £2 2s 6-Id at Port Pirie, Justice Higgins fixed the minimum wage for unskilled labor on the- Barrier at 8s 7-Jd per day, and at Port Pirie Ss 3d per day, and for miners at both places IDs per day for 4S hours’ work a week. The award, which lasts till 1910, leaves the contract system at present in operation untouched. „ SYDNEY, March 12. The award upholds the claim for increased wages, but makes no order as to mining companies continuing operations. Justice Higgins said he fully recognised the terrible nature of the catastrophe that would be caused if the Proprietary Company stopped working. He recognised to the full bis responsibility in the matter, but, according to the general manager, the company had not more than two years and a half of full work before it. II the catastrophe did not happen to-day it was bound to happen very soon. Business men and miners on the Bairier express satisfaction with the award., but there are some feais among the men that the big mine will not resume operations.