COAL MINERS' DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3014, 27 February 1917, Page 4

COAL MINERS' DISPUTE

o . . ■ THE LONG CONFERENCE CONTINUES. The conference between coal miners and mine owners still continues, and may go on for the remainder of this week. It was thought that tho end would bo reached on Saturday, and some of the owners' -representatives had made preparations to go homo. Indeed, ono or two of them had left. Apparently affairs have taken a fresh turn, however, for it is now stated that the conference can not end before Thursday. To-day the parties meet again, but after this meeting there will probably bo an adjournment till Thursday. The conference may end on that day, but if not it is likely to continue for the remainder of the week. This coal disputo is the biggest of its kind that has ever been the subject of negotiations between employers and unions. On former occasions it has usual for soino owners to deal direct with ilieir own men, and fix up an agreement on the lines of other Tecent agreements affecting othsr mines, but this time the Federation.or Miners' Unions declared for collective bargaining by the federation with all employers, and against. single unions negotiating with their employers. .Iris by far the most important industrial trouble that lias ever arisen in New Zealand. , ■ . , But there are two other industrial disputes on hand which are scarcely less important. The shipowners are to meet the seamen to-day to discuse proposals by the union for considerable increases in pay, and the waterside labour trouble, quiescent now. is not likely to remain so for long. The conference which is to be held to consider the dispute will meet shortly.