"NOT WEAKENING"

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 145, 1 April 1930, Page 5

"NOT WEAKENING"

THE GOAL STRIKE.

STATEMENT BY CONVENTION. RANK AND FILE TO DECIDE. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Recieved This Dav, 9.25 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Coal Miners’ Convention has issued a statement that there, are no signs of the miners weakening, hut mass meetings will be held next week to ascertain whether the rank and file are prepared to return to work on the November compromise terms. The mine owners have dropped a hint that they are not likely to tolerate much more dallying by the miners. A conference will be held in Sydney! on Wednesday between the enginedrivers’. officials and the mineowners concerning the rates of pay for complete resumption at all the Northern colleries.

SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES. REPORT OF COMMISSION. (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Royal Commission which inquired into the coal industry last year has furnished its report to the State Premier (Mr T. R. Bavin). The report recommends that there should be a more ready method of settling disputes than now exists, preferably by a board consisting of three, equipped with extensive powers and having security of tenure in order to enable it to develop and 1 give effect to a definite policy and to be paid for by a fund from levies on all coal raised. This, board should have the power to fix the selling price of coal, also the miners’ rates of pay and hours and, if possible, to institute schemes of prosperity sharing, also to act as a conciliation or arbitration tribunal with power to appoint committees to hear and determine disputes and to impose fines. It is also suggested that the board should be empowered to license employees in the coal industry and withdraw licenses for any just cause, and should a strike or lock-out occur, to declare who is responsible and what measures should be adopted for the engagement of fresh labour. Upon the question of. the fixation of coal prices, the ‘Commission pointed out that drastic reform in this direction as imperative owing to the increasing desire by the public to protect their own interests. The high price of coal and the disturbed conditions in this industry are interfering with national efficiency, and it is necessary that the Government should assume similar means of control. The new objective must be not merely to eliminate over-capacity and over-manning, but also to stimulate the market by lowering costs. One step in this direction would be effected by reducing the ratio between the earnings of the more highlv-paid employees and those paid on daily rates, and by making the wages of all mine workers conform more closely to those of workers of the same degree of skill in other industries.