MINERS' STRIKE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17170, 13 June 1921, Page 6

MINERS' STRIKE.

I OWNERS SUBMIT TER*MS. BALLOT TO BE TAKEN. (By Cable—Pr«*« Association—Copyright,) (Australian and ».£. Cab'e Association.) JX>XDOX. June 10. The meeting of the Xatiunal Fedcrj. tion of Minors decided to take a Fallot on the terms submitted by tho coal, owners. The result will be announced on June 17th. A two-thirds majority will be pj. quired to continue the strike. The ballot paper specifically sulci whether the men are prepared to drop ' the pool. It is understood the owners have at- - sured the men of tho 1914 wages as ibk basis for one year. The ballot, paper states that the fiwt,* reduction in wages will not exceed 2}' '? per shift for all workers 16 years of agg .'J and upwards, and Is per shift for ifi"' 1 workers under sixteen. Xo further ndilution will be made until August lit. -. Further reductions after August will tie agreed upon mutually until the Garernment grant is exhausted. Tho t«mpoiary agreement will end as soon u the Government grant is vsed up. A* regards the permanent 6clicme, the owners propose, a national board to fix principles lor tho guidance of district boards, comprising an equal number of mine-owners and miner*, with an independent chairman. The parties a|- , ready hare agreed upon the principb that profits shall only bo ft fixed p«r--mtago of the wages paid. The board will fix the ]x>rceniage of profits to wages and the Amount of tho new standard wage. The owners have offered to accept as the standard tho wages paid in July, 1914, plus district additions plus a percentage to pieceworkers causeo by the reduction of hours from eight to seven, and a minimum of 20 per cent. added thereto, this minin uni to coo- > tinuo until June, 1922. Wages under the permanent scheme arc to bo baaed ' ' on tifie capacity of each district to p*jr, ' If day workers do not n-ccive a ran. sistenro wage tho district board will,", • fix a wage. The decisions cf tho na.v ~ tional board are to bo binding on botii parties for one year, after nliich to ttj. made subject to three months' notkw* Tho ballots are returnable on the 17Jfc> inst. Mr, Smith states that a t«)r'i thirds majority is required for tSio ttW-ij l tinuanco of iao strike. tr