kitty

No gold in the Fiji Goldminers’ Union kitty

The Fiji Mineworkers’

Union is in financial trouble, sitting on assets of about $6O 000, but with little li quidity. Three officials of the union and the manager of the union’s club, have tem porarily suspended their pay, totalling $253 a week, pend ing the government takeover of the mine at Vatukoula.

The union’s two telephones have been cut off because of a $7OO debt, being repaid at the rate of $5O a month. A $4 000 bank overdraft is being reduc ed by $2OO a week. The union secretary, Mr Navitalai Ra qona, one of those going with out pay, said he fully accepted :he situation because the events which caused it were to ead to the possible take-over )f the Emperor Gold Mining :o Ltd by the government.

The union’s ranks were sud

lenly depleted when Emperor

aid men off. Many of the men vent to other industries, leav ng a financial membership of ibout 600; 1 100 were needed o enable the union to meet all commitments.

However, the coming change of ownership of the nine did not prevent the in ion from serving a log of laim on Emperor. Some of hese c.laims were of more )enefit to the union itself, han to members. These were or the company to: Totally urrender a block of land on vhich the union office was ituated; Supply free electrici y to the union office and club; tore a 48.7 m hole for union

water stores; Supply free materials to the union for four 9.14 mby 7.32 m houses; And to pay $5O 000 to the Mineworkers’ Credit Union.

Other claims were for a 15% wage rise for all hourly paid workers, 18 extra paid days annual leave for shift workers, and five extra days for others. But whether Em peror or the new owner of the mines is expected to meet the claims is not exactly clear.

Meanwhile, the govern ment, recognising that Vatukoula has an uncertain future as a goldmining town, has offered special incentives for new industries. Land will be available at cost, interest free, to cover development expenditure over 10 years in equal instalments with a grace period of five years when no payment will have to be made, income tax concessions for a maximum period of eight years, duty free entry of plant and machinery and raw materials, accelerated depreciation allowance and export incentives.

The concessions will be available to manufacturing and food processing indus tries in approved cases, and only in the case of new com panies or subsidiaries. They will not apply to industries trying to shift all or part of their operations to Vatukoula.

Income tax concessions will be available as long as all company activities are in the Vatukoula industrial area.