THE MINERS' DEMANDS.

Bruce Herald, Volume LV, Issue 61, 11 August 1919, Page 3

THE MINERS' DEMANDS.

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON. On Tuesday Mr Bishop, feting 1 UnideTSecretary of Mimes, gave. dleipartmental figures showing that the actual cost of production of coal at the Stat a mines was £2 5s 6cl l per ton delivered to consumers in Wellington, Allowing the ■decreased output due to the' abolition of .the contract system, the total imc wised cost per ton 1 for a seven-hour day would! be 12s Gd, and for a six,-ihour day log Id. This was 'based on the assumption that the decrease in the output would ibe 30 per cent. The total increased cost of producing the' output if the demands were conceded would be £155,205, assuming the mines produced aa much coal per hour .under the wages as under the contract system. The decreased output compared with' last year duo to the ■shorter working time would Jhi 46- > 2«8o tons for seven hours a day, or 7u,2'J'«'i tons for a six-hour day. .Mr Pryor, en 'behalf of the owners, si'ibmititedi a comparative return prepared 'by representatives 1 of the 'mine managers showing the estimated increase in cost which would follow the adoption of the miners'' demands. "He siaid that the -figures were prepared independently) to those submitted iby the State Coal' Department, ibut it would be seen were almost identical. Mr Flavell, general manager of the Westport-Stockton 'Coal 'Company, said the public were chiefly concerned in the question new to get coal. The total output of New Zealand in 1917 was 2,068,419 tons. The muinber of employees in the mines was 3994, of whom 1360 were colliers. 'The 'output averaged (5.43 tons. If 10 shifts per fortnight were granted, they would lose 26 days' work, equal to 5775 tons per day, aggregating 228,150 tons. Granting a seven-hours''' day meant 5 hours l 40 minutes'' work instead of 6 hours 40 minutes, or a reduction on the output of over 15 per cent., equal to .'510,261 tons. Present holidays were nine during the ! year, and 22 were, new asked for. If they assumed four fell on Sunday and pay Saturdays-, nine extra holidays were asked for, representing 78,975 tons. If they agreed to- aJbolish the tonnage rate system for £1 a'day irrespective of result it would mean reduction of 620,522 tons. If the demand for six hours <bank-to-ibank'were granted the coal mining industry would soon be as dead as .1 ulius

Mr Alison said) the figures presented by tlrei Minies .Deptautment affirmed the owners' estimate of the increased cost and) decreased output, 'Nothing had been adduced to cause the' employers to alter their decision. In response l to a request, from the Federation the ■employers submitted! the following counter proposals:— : (1) That thei figures from Ib'oth sides; be submitted to ani independent Government wamdnee; (2) that after the first of the Federation demands is definitely deeided upon a conference 'be heldi to comsideir a n'cw agreement in tire light of the general labour conditions and. the increase or reduction in* the cost of 'living; (;i) that, the offer of the Government to the dinners ini the State coal miives ~to form a board of control will be fully considered iby the mine owners, the result of such deliberations to 'be reported to tire next conference; (4) that ait effort .be made to obtain! such legislation as will assist the employees in securing home's; 'by loan'from the Government or otherwise; (5) tihat the question' of superannuation be= fully entered into. Mr Alison, reiterated.the owners' decision) not to discuss the'five principal denvands. Mr 'Ro'berts said that, the' responsibility for producing coal rested on the mine owners. What the miii'ers wanted was such conditions at the mines' as would attract miners, and so assure a full supply of coal. 'Resuming the conference next day, the .miners' representatives disagreed with the counter proposals. Mr T. S. Wilson mad'c a proposal that, a commit- , tee of three .memibers from each side i should be set'up to discuss the possibil- | ity of going on with the consideration of the demands other than those withdrawn, for the time 'being. This was agreed to 'by the parties.