AUSTRALIAN COAL DISPUTE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19733, 25 September 1929, Page 11

AUSTRALIAN COAL DISPUTE.

GOVERNMENT SUBMIT PROPOSALS. i MINERS ASKED TO ACCEPT THEM. (TTXITED ERE9S ASSOCIATION —BY SLBCTBIO TELEQBAPH -COPYBIGHT.) (Eeceived September 24th, 10.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 24. The New South Wales Cabinet considered the Coal Commission's report, after which Mr Bavin sent a letter to Mr Davies, general secretary to the Miners' Federation, asking if the combined Unions were prepared to accept the Government's proposals providing for a reduction of one shilling per ton in the wages, which is equal to twelve and a half per cent, off contract earnings, and a shilling per day off other labour, the State Government to reduce the handling and haulage charges to the extent of 25d per ton, and the Federal Government to pay a bounty of a shilling per ton on coal sent to inter-State ports. —Australian Press Association. COMMISSION'S REPORT. UNION OFFICIALS DISPUTE FIGURES. SYDNEY, September 24. Although the Premier, Mr Bavin, has conferred with both sides, there is considered to be small chance of an early resumption in the coal dispute, following the Commission's findings, the miners having previously refused to be bound by the Commission's decision. Union officials challenged the accuracy of the Commission's computations. They state that improper allowance was made by the Commission for child endowment, compensation, and income tax, and the finding, therefore, was equivalent to 3s 5Jd a ton. Mr Bavin subsequently stated that the owners were prepared to reopen the mines on the basis of the Government's proposals. —Australian Press Association. PROPRIETORS* VIEW. NO GROUNDS FOR WILD STATEMENTS. (Received September 24th, 8.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 24. Discussing the Coal Commission's report, Mr C. M. Macdonald, secretary of the Associated Northern Collieries Proprietors, said the report showed clearly that there was no ground whatever for wild talk as to the profits from these mines being from five shillings to nine shillings per ton. Nothing would convince political and industrial agitators to the contrary, so the country had been put to the huge expense of the Commission's enquiry, which, after exhaustive investigation, had found the position very much as stated by the Government A year ago.—Australian Press Association.