COAL INDUSTRY BILL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 248, 1 August 1946, Page 6

COAL INDUSTRY BILL

STRONG OBJECTION VOICED DIFFICULT POSITION FOR GOVERNMENT (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright.) (Rec. 12.45) CANBERRA, This Day. With representatives of the colliery proprietors and of the Min- , ers’ Federation uoav in Canberra, both are objecting strongly to certain features of the Coal Industry Bill; and the' Federal Government is in a difficult position.

Instead of producing a compromise Avhich Avould lead to improvement in the coal industry, it has created a Bill Avhich is disliked by both sides. The miners will ask that one of the members of the proposed board of three should be a nominee of the federation. This strikes directly at the principle that members of the hoard should he completely unconnected Avitli interested parties in the industry. , The miners also Avant a new clause to give compensation and re-employ-ment for miners Avliose jobs might disappear Avitli the application of mechanisation to the industry, or any other action of the hoard. The miners’ spokesman will tell Mr Cliifley that poAver to deprive men of the right to work in the industry is thoroughly obnoxious to the federation. t A section of the caucus has already attempted unsuccessfully to have the disciplinary clauses deleted from the measure.

The owners are concerned _ about the Government’s decision to withdraAv part of the Bill, including the provision of compensation payments to the oAvner of a mine taken under control by the board. >