COAL CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 16, 20 January 1933, Page 3

COAL CONFERENCE.

NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE. NORTHERN WORKERS' OFFER. A full discussion on the proposals for a new agreement between the Northern coal mino owners and the Northern Miners' Union took place at a conference between representatives of the parties in the Takapuna Jockey Club's rooms yesterday. The conference was continued to-day. Mr. W. D. Holgate, president of the New Zealand Mine Owners' Association, presided. The owners are represented by Mr. T. O. Bishop, secretary of the association, and directors of the Pukemiro, Taupiri, Glen Afton, Renown and Hikurangi companies. The miners are represented by Messrs. R. L. Roberts, G. Green, J. Clark, T. Stephenson, V. Curran and W. Davison, Waikato; W. Wesley and C. Latham, Hikurangi; A. McLagan, secretary of the United Miners' Union, Brunnerton.

The current industrial agreement terminates at the end of January, and the mine owners have served the unions with proposals for a new agreement which provide, among other things, for a reduction in the rates of pay. On the other hand, the unions have proposed that the existing rates of wages be increased by 10 per cent, and that a number of clauses affecting the working conditions be altered. The proposals of the men were considered by the owners this morning, and, it is stated, were rejected. During the lunch hour, it is understood, the miners' representatives modified their requests and the proposals in a new form were to be put to the owners at the continuation of the conference this afternoon.