THE COAL CRISIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 37, 12 February 1920, Page 8

THE COAL CRISIS.

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. DAY WAGE? .VXD CONTRACT. MOST CONTENTIOUS MATTER. ADJOURNED TILL FRIDAY. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The conference of the Miners' Federation Executive with members of the Coal Mine Owners' Association, under the presidency of tho Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. \V." F. Maesey), opened at i-30 to-day, and continued until f> o'clock, v. hen there was an adjournment till Thnrsdav afternoon.

The proceedings to-day were private, a nil the Premier announced afterward? that there was nothing to say about the business, except that it appeared to be likely to la#t a long time. Some of the ronl owners desiring to attend coull not arrive in Wellington till Friday, and there was no possibility of a settlement until then.

From other sources, your correspondent learned that the conference liae not gone far enough to give any indication iif the likely result. The delegates had not concluded dism>sloll on the contract system when the adjournment was taken.

The employers raised the question of allowing the contract system as well as ■ lay wages. This is a most contentions matter between the parties, and it is probably a wioe thing to clear the ground* of thie difficulty at an early .-tage. *onic of the delegates consider the !>ufcincss will last at least one week. DISTRICT SETTLEMENT.

GO-SLOW ENDED. BETTER WAGES. DEARER COAL. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) INA'ERCARGILL, Wednesday. As a result of negotiations which have Ween proceeding for some time between the mine owners and the miners in the Wairio. and Ohai district*, the go-slow policy has ended, and work -tnrted in full ewing on Monday morning.

•It is understood that the men secured a very substantial increase in wages, and as a result the price of coal to the public has been increased by 3/4 per ton. SHORTAGE AT HAMILTON.

.STATEMENT BY PREMIER. (By Telegraph—(Press Association.) HAMILTON, Wednesday. Mr. G. Parr, president of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, has received the following telegram from the Prime Minister in reply to a wire dispatched yesterday apprising him of the position:— "Your telegram of even date is the first intimation my Department has received respecting the position of coal supplies in your town. But as your district comes under the administration of the Auckland Coal Trade Committee possibly the position has been placed before them. My Department has, however, communicated by urgent telegram with the secretary of that body instructing them to endeavour to provide for the immediate requirements of Hamilton. The shortage of hard coal especially is very acute, and great difficulty ■has been experienced in meeting the demands of essential industries and public services, but you can rest assured the best possible is being done with supplies available for distribution to meet all urgent cases."