COAL DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 54, 28 November 1923, Page 8

COAL DISPUTE

MINISTER’S PROPOSAL

CONSIDERED BY MINERS’ COUNCIL

By Telegraph— Press Association. Creynwuth, November 27. The position in regard to the coal dispute remains unaltered. . Tho Ngakawau Union this morning negatived the Minister of Mines proposal in reference to a 5 per. cent, increase for tho two lowest-paid group#of men, but it is understood that the Ministerial proposals are being now considered by the Alincrs’ Council prior to referring them to tho rank and file. [Tho Minister’s proposals are as fol-low:—-That the coal-owners should undertake not to oppose the application of the miners in the Court of Arbitration for an increase of 5 per cent, in tho wages of the lowest paid woxkers at tho mines. That all other matters in dispute, such as trucking, pillarrates, wet places, etc., shall bo referred firstly to conciliation, and finally to tho Court of Arbitration, to decide any points not settled by agreement. That tho conciliation proceedings take the form, first, of a preliminary conference, presided over by a Conciliation Commissioner, consisting of five members representing the miners and five representing the coal-owners. That a sitting of the ordinary Conciliation Council should deal further with the matter, preparatory to submitting the terms agreed on to the Court for ratification, and any points undecided for its adjudication.]