COAL MINERS' DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 261, 28 July 1908, Page 7

COAL MINERS' DISPUTE.

THE CONFERENCE. DEADLOCK ON THREE POINTS. (BI TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunedin, July 27. _ Representatives of the Green Island collieries and coal miners commenced a conference this afternoon. The mine owners were represented by Messrs. P. Barclay, A. Bremlier, Brugh, G. and W. Christie, S. Freeman, It. Hill, and R. Green. The miners representatives were Messrs. A. Weston (District President), A. Forbes (District Secretary), A. Love, W. Hollows, and C. Smith. Mr. P. Hally (of tho Labour Department) presided. The principal demands of the men are: — Fixing tonnage rates, shift wages, improvement of conditions, confirming weighing of coal, wet and deficient places. It was decided to take the' referenco filed by tho Union with tho Arbitration C.ourt and consider tho clauses seriatim. With the exception of one or two clauses, it appeared likely that a. settlement would be arrived at, but present indications do not point to an amicablo settlement on the whole reference. The' principal point in dispute relates to pieco rates. The miners demand an increaso of 4d. per ton in tho hewing rates oil all classes of coal, but the,owners declare they will not give moro than an increaso of 2d. per ton. On threo occasions a deadlook was reached. Both sides refused to givo way in any particular, hut after some lengthy discussions it was agreed to proceed as if the ownors had agreed to givo an incroase of 4d. This was done so that the owners might see what concessions Uie men were prepared to make in their demands provided the employers would givo way on tho main point. It was also agreed that should tho conference prove abortive this arrangemont would not bo prejudicial to either side. ' Five clauses woro subsequently considered. (1) Number 'of boxes of round coal to bo filled per day by each miner. This was loft in abeyance. (2) Width of cords. No docision was arrived at in this case, the mattor being referred to tho Union which meets to-morrow night. (3) Pillars. This mattor was loft tho samo as in tho old award. (4) Weighing coal. This was loft in aboyanco. (5) Narrow places. Practically tho same as in tho old award. Tho conference sat for eight hours, and will be resumed to-morrow at 1.30 p.m. So far as can bo gathered neither side anticipates an nmicablo sottlement, in which event a striko will probably result.