COAL DISPUTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 77, 1 April 1930, Page 7

COAL DISPUTES.

N.S.W. SUGGESTION.

Board Should be Formed to Control Industry. GOVERNMENT URGED TO ACT. {United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. The Eoyal Commission which inquired into the coal industry last year has furnished its report to the Premier of New South Wales, Mr. T. R. Bavin.

The commission recommends that there should be a more ready method of settling disputes than now exists, preferably by means of a board, to consist of three persons equipped with extensive powers and having security of tenure in order to enable them to develop and give effect to a definite policy.

The suggestion is that the board be paid for out of a fund from levies on all coal raised. The board, it is recommended, should have power to fix the selling price of coal, also the miners' rates of pay and hours.

If possible the board should institute schemes of prosperity-sharing and also act as a conciliation or arbitration, tribunal. It should have power to appoint committees to hear and determine disputes, impose fines and decide what mines, if any, should be closed. 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 that, should a strike or lock-out occur, it should declare who is responsible and what measures should be adopted for the engagement of fresh labour. Fixation of Prices. Upon the question of the fixation of coal prices, the commission pointed out that a drastic reform in this direction was 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 were interfering with national efficiency, and it was necessary that the Government should assume a suitable means of control.

The new objective must be, not merely to eliminate over-capacity and overmanning, but also to stimulate the market by lowering the costs. One step in this direction would be effected by reducing the ratio between the earnings of the more highly 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.

OWNERS DROP HINT.

Will Not Tolerate More Dallying

by Miners.

NO SIGNS OF WEAKENING.

(Received 10.30 a.m.)

SYDNEY, this day.

The Coal Miners' Convention issued a statement that there were no signs of the miners weakening but mass meetings are being held next week to ascertain whether the rank and file are prepared to return to work at the November compromise terms. The mine owners have dropped a hint that they are not likely to tolerate much more dallying by the miners' officials.

A conference is being held in Sydney on Wednesday between the enginedrivers' officials and the mine owners concerning the rates of pay for a complete resumption at all the northern collieries.