DEADLOCK ENDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 161, 9 July 1932, Page 7

DEADLOCK ENDS.

COAL STRIKE DISPUTE. TERMS OF SETTLEMENT. CONCESSIONS BY BOTH SIDES. CONTENTIOUS CLAUSES MODIFIED. mines rkopkntng ox Tuesday. fR.v Teleßrnph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. As foreshadowed yesterday, an agreement in the Northern coal miner; dispute has now been reached, and, subject to ratification by the miners of the terms of the final settlement, the mines will reopen on Tuesday. Arrangements were made to-day to pay off the volunteer labour which was engaged at the Renown mine yesterday, and the proposal to work the Hikurangi mine by contract has been abandoned. Although neither side will disclose the basis of the settlement, an outline of the major points can be given. The sections in the owners' proposals which stood in the way of complete agreement after the majority of the clauses had been agreed to were those relating to "hire and fire," stone in coal, dip-heading grades, wet places, reinstatement of the minimum wage, and the cost of household coal. Countorsuggcritioiiri were made by the miners' representatives, and as a result of the concessions made by both sides agreement was finally reached. The basis of settlement was as under: — (1) '"Hire and Fire": The men conceded the right to the management to shor- | ten hands in accordance with trade conditions, and the owners agreed that upon re-engagement preference should be given to ex-employees. The owners undertake to inquire into any charges of victimisation. (2) Stone in Coal: In lieu of a line of 3d for every 71b of stone in a skip (which sum was to be applied i to the Miners' Medical Fund) it was I agreed that after suitable warnings had been issued and the union had been advised, the. men concerned would be liable to suspension or dismissal for a continuance of the offence. (3) Dip-Headings: A grade of 1 in 10 was agreed to. (-1) Wet Places: The owners' proposals were agreed to regarding rates of pay for wet places, and those of the men regarding the qualifying time, namely, six hours back to back, instead of seven hours. (5) Minimum Wage: The minimum wage is to be reinstated subject to certain limitations. (G) Household Coal: The suggestions of the miners that the cost of household coal should be six shillings a ton was adopted. No information is available as to when the agreement, if ratified, will terminate. Conciliatory Attitude. The agreement was reached last evening following the conference between representatives of the owners and the men; and presided over by the. Hon. A. Hamilton, Minister of Labour. Others present at different stages were the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, Minister of Mines, Mr. A. H. Kiinbell, Under-Secrctary of the Mines Department, and Messrs. Smeeton and McLagan, president and secretary respectively of the National Miners' Union. It wae agreed at the outset that the conference was not in the nature of a national gathering, and that those present who did not directly represent Northern district interests were acting purely as observers. Those associated with the conference stated subsequently that from the outset the miners' delegates evinced a most conciliatory attitude, and in a determined effort to effect a solution they considerably shortened proceedings by agreeing to many of the clauses which had been submitted by the owners at the last conference in Auckland. The owners for their part were not lacking in consideration, and readily adopted the suggestion of the miners' representatives for a short adjournment to enable counter-proposals on the points still in dispute to be prepared and eubmitted in the afternoon. Narrowed down, the outstanding items numbered six, and the fact that an agreement wae arrived at late in the afternoon is a glowing tribute to the spirit in which the deliberations were carried out. All agree that the conference, together with its outcome, was one of the most satisfactory of its kind ever held in New Zealand. Probably never previously has a conference of this nature arrived at finality in so short a time. Ratification Expected. The union delegates have taken the recommendations back to their members, and, subject to ratification by them of the final settlement, work will be resumed in all the mines on Tuesday. It is anticipated by those in a position to speak that the proposals will _be approved by an overwhelming majority, and that ratification will be secured without recourse to a ballot. Expressions of opinion by responsible officials in Wellington suggest also that no difficulty will now be encountered in securing an agreement between the owners and the miners on the West Coast. Although no statement is made officially, it is learned that the proposal of the owners of the Hikurangi mine to work it by contract, which was advanced prior to the Government's intervention, has been definitely abandoned. At the conclusion of the conference delegates from each side complimented the "Hon. A. Hamilton on the attitude he had adopted throughout and expressed appreciation of the opportunity he had provided for bringing them together.