COAL CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 222, 18 September 1919, Page 5

COAL CONFERENCE.

GOVERNMENT URGED TO CAHfe EC, (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. ' Further advice to the Government that M it take the initiative in calling another ■ | conference in connection with the coal i mining trouble was given in the House today, Mr. G. W. Russell mentioning that • he had been approached by Labour re- *| presentatives, backed by a large number 'I of unionists, who were of opinion that \ directly a conference was called tha 1 . policy of '*go slow" would at once eea__. "I The conference, said Mr. Russell, might ij include representatives of shipping, farm- "' ing. and the general public, as well as 1 coal mining interests. ■ i The Premier said communications had I'ilieen passing between himself and tha -miners' leaders, which he thought inM advisable to make public at present. He -jwas quite willing that a conference should take place, but he was doubtful S about any result coming from a compul--5 sory conference. He had already offered 1! to provide a suitable chairman and would r consult the head of the Labour Departf nient to .'■ee what could be done. 'T want .to bring this deadlock to an end," added -i Mr. Massey, "but 1 don't want to be [[forced into the position of consenting to .''any serious increase in the cost of living. i Even what is proposed by the coal owners will mean a slight increase. 1 don't want to go very much further than that."