COAL TROUBLE SETTLED.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16323, 21 September 1918, Page 8

COAL TROUBLE SETTLED.

MEN ACCEPT OWNERS' OFFER OF BONUS. HOW DISPUTES ARE TO BE DEALT WITH IN FUTURE. {MESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, September 20. Advice has been received that the coal-mine owners' offer to pay a bonus of 1\ per cent, to piece-workers, and 10 per cent, to wages' men, has been accepted by the miners unions by a large majority, but the final returns are not complete. The terms of the settlement agreed upon at the conference of representatives of the Association and tho Federation were: — (1) That with a view to securing an amicable settlement of tho disputo, and accepting tho assurance of the miners' delegates that during the torn of existing agreements, the Federation will undertake that no further Dominion coal labour disputes will arise, tho mine owners' offer to increase tho existing bonuses by 7$ per cent, to pieco and contract workers, and 10 per cent, to wages' men. (2) That the mine owners undertake to supplv the miners with explosives during tne currency of existing industrial agreements at the prices at present being charged by tho respective companies. The conference also discussed the question of providing . means whereby disputes occurring in individual mines during the currency of agreements might be expeditiously and effectively I dealt with, and in this way prevent strikes, lock-outs, stop-work meetings, etc. In that connexion, a sub-commit-tee was sot up fio draft proposals which were agreed' to, as under, by the conference, and have since been approved by the partiee concerned: — t (1) That any dispute which cannot be settled by the executive of the union and management of the particular mine concerned, shall be referred forthwith to a District Disputes' Committee. (2) The District Disputes' Committee shall consist of three representatives appointed by each side, and shall deal with any matter which has not been settled by the means provided in clause 1 hereof. Fniling a settlement of any dispute by the District Disputes' .Committee, it shall be referred forthwith to a National Disputes? Committee. (3) The National Disputes' Committee shall consist of three representatives appointed by the coal-mine owners, and threo representatives appointed by oho Now Zealand Miners' Federation, ana shall deal with such matters as are referred to it by the District Disputes Committees. Either party shall have the right of appeal to the National Disputes' Committee from the decision ot any District Disputes' Committee. (5) The decision of the National Committee shall be final, abd binding upon both parties to tho proposal. No striko, lock-out or unnecessary stoppage ot •work shall take place at any mine till the dispute is dealt with ; as provided for. Tho decision of the National Committee is to be loyally accepted. It was also agreed that nothing in the foregoing shall be construed to interfere with or curtail the fights of mine managers or officials in CMtrol of the working of mines, or to interfere with the recognised functions of local unions. The above conditions are to remain in operation for twelve montha from the date of ratification, and therenfw thoy may he reviewed as may be deoided upon.