I.—4a.

[appendix.

said), (all of which said companies are hereinafter referred to as " the Companies "), of the one part; and the Inangahua Miners' Industrial Union of Workers, an industrial union duly incorporated and having its registered office at Reefton aforesaid (hereinafter referred to as " the Workers' Union "), of the other part, whereby it is agreed by and between the said parties hereto as follows:— 1. The following shall be the minimum rate of wages which shall be paid by the companies respectively to the persons employed by such companies respectively in the capacities undermentioned—that is to say : — s. d. (1.) Mine shift-bosses per shift ... 11 8 (2.) Timber-men on surface „ ... 11 8 (3.) Men employed on rise, winze, or shaft „ ... 10 0 (4.) Miners „ ... 9 6 (5.) Winders requiring Government certificates „ ... 11 8 (6.) Engine-drivers not requiring winders'certificate „ ... 10 0 (7.) General blacksmiths „ ... 13 4 (8.) Blacksmiths ordinarily employed in sharpening tools „ ... 11 8 (9.) Blacksmiths' assistants, strikers „ ... 8 0 (10.) Brace-men „ ... 9 0 (11.) Chamber-men „ ... 10 0 (12.) Truckers „ ... 8 0 (13.) Battery-feeders „ ... 8 0 (14.) Men working rock-breaker „ ... 8 0 (15.) Men in charge of aerial „ ... 11 8 (16.) Brakeman of aerial . „ ... 10 0 (17.) Men employed filling aerial „ ... 9 0 (18.) Men employed tipping aerial „ ... 8 0 (19.) Men in charge of shift at batteries „ ... 10 0 (20.) Men working vanners „ ... 8 0 (21.) Men working at slimes-tables „ ... 8 0 (22.) Men working at chlorination-works roasters „ ... 9 6 (23.) Men working in chlorination-works other than roasters „ ... 8 6 (24.) Men working at cyanide „ ... 9 0 (25.) Men in charge of rock-drills „ ... 10 6 (26.) Men working at rock-drills, not in charge „ ... 9 6 (27.) Men in charge of rock-drills in rise „ ... 11 0 (28.) Men working rock-drills in rise, not in charge „ ... 10 0 (29.) Men exclusively employed in filling from rock-drills „. ... 9 0 (30.) Men timbering in mine „ ... 9 6 (31.) Firemen „ ... 10 6 (32.) Carpenters „ ... 11 8 (33.) Pick-and-shovel labour „ ... 9 0 (34.) Ordinary surface labour, other than pick-and-shovel „ ... 8 0 2. Men taken from the face in the mine to do temporary work on the surface, but not exceeding two successive shifts, shall be paid the same rate as if at the face, and the same hours of labour shall be observed. 3. Youths under twenty-one years of age may be employed as blacksmiths' strikers, truckers, battery-feeders, tipping the aerial, working vanners, working at slimes-tables, working at cyanide, and at any other work which may at any time and from time to time be agreed upon in writing between any of the Companies and the Workers' Union, at the following rates of wages, that is to say—For the first year not less than ss. for each working-day of eight hours, with an increase at the end of each year of not less than Is. per day until such youth reaches the minimum wage of the branch of employment in which he is employed. Winding-men. 4. When the shaft exceeds a depth of 250 ft., and there is machinery, the Company shall at all times hoist the men ; provided that any Company may from time to time agree in writing with the Workers' Union that this clause shall be suspended with respect to any mine or portion of a mine mentioned in such agreement, for the period therein specified, and in such case this provision shall cease to be operative to the extent and for the period mentioned in such agreement. Contracts. 5. In all cases in which tenders are called for work written specifications shall be provided to work by, and no Company shall enter into any contract for the performance of work in or about a mine without making it a binding stipulation of such contract that the contractor shall pay to the wages-men employed by him the minimum rate of wages provided by this agreement. Holidays. 6. The Christmas holdays shall be from the 24th of December to the Ist of January, both days inclusive; but if New Year's day fall upon a Sunday then the Monday following shall be observed as a holiday also. The birthday of the reigning Sovereign and Labour Day shall also be holidays : Provided that this clause shall not apply to batteries or reduction-works; but it shall be incumbent upon each Company to allow to each man employed in batteries or reduction-works holidays of

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