WAGES OF COAL MINERS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 17018, 15 December 1920, Page 6

WAGES OF COAL MINERS.

9 OWNERS CANNOT GRANT INCREASE. (press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, December 14. Last month tho Miners' Federation made n demand for a substantial cost of living bonus for all mine workers. The ! Federation has now been by the Mine Owners' Association that tho request cannot he considered, and the ' reason for tins is stated in a letter forwarded to Mr ArbucKlo by Mr W. Pryor, secretary of the Association. The letter is as follows: — Dear Sir, —In reply to yours of 19th ult., requesting tiiat all employees in and about coal mines bo granted an immediato increase of 25 per cent., owing to the high increases in tho cost of "living, I am instructed to direct your attention to a paragraph in Clause 12 of the national agreement, which is as under: "It is an express condition that tho above bonuses are granted to -day and piece workers upon pre-war rates (except in tho case of shift men, wlu shall be paid a flat rate, without a bonus, of 18s per shift), and that neither rates of pay nor bonuses shall be altered or amended during the term lof this agreement." In view of the I above determination, which expresses the deliberate decision of the national J conference that rates of pay or bonuses I should not be subject to revision during ! tho currency of the it. is regretted that the request contained in your letter should have been mado, as in tho circumstances the coal mine owners cannot see, their way to consider the demand. The period for which the i agreement was made (ono year) has still some months to run."