MINERS' DEMANDS

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 49, 26 February 1921, Page 6

MINERS' DEMANDS

SIX CLAUSES MUST BE WITHDRAWN

NO CONFERENCE OTHERWISE

OWNERS' REPLY TO FEDERATION.

There has been'an important development in connection with the demands for a new agreement recently made upon the Mine Owners' Association by the New Zealand Miners' Federation. .tTlie owners Lave decided to. insist upon the withdrawal of certain " revolutionary and far-fetched" demands which the owners declined to discuss when they were last presented, over a year ago. The following letter from Mr. W. Pryor, secretary of the Mine Owners' Association, addressed to Mr. J. Arbuckle, secretary of the Miners' Federation, explains itself:—

Dear Sir, —With reference to your letter of 17th inst., lequesting a conference for the purpose of considering a new national agreement, and setting out the proposals you desire to have discussed, the following appearing amongst these iatter: —

1. Abolition of Uie contract system. 2. 'Six-hour day, bank to bank. 3. Five-day week. 4. Abolition of afternoon shift. 5. Payment for holidays. 6. Payment for time lost (minimum weekly wage).

While there are other claims to which exception is taken, and which could not be 'Conceded by employers, particular attention is directed to the above-men-tioned, similar proposals to which were ■very fully discussed at the conference held in August, 1919, and in February, 1920. The employers then took up the position that these particular proposals were so revolutionary and far-fetched, and would result, if granted, in such a great increase in the price of coal to the general public, that unless they were ■withdrawn.' by your Federation as subjects for discussion, the employers would not proceed with the conference. Your executive finally withdrew' them, and thus enabled the conference to proceed. Since February last year nothing has happened to warraat these proposals being again brought forward; indeed, the contrary* is the case.

In August last the Australian coal miners mad© similax demands, but they have not been conceded by the Australian coal mine-owners. Again' the. Broken Hill strike, which arose in March, 1918, over the insistence upon demands similar to these by the Broken ' Hill metal unions, was terminated after twenty months by the special tribunal appointed by Government deciding against them.

In face of these facts, my executive has decided that until these particular ■demands are withdrawn it would be both unfair to the general public and useless to enter into any conference with your federation. If these demands are withdrawn my executive will be pleased to arrange for a conference at the .earliest possible date. lam instructed to inform you, however, that the holding of a conference does not necessarily mean that the New Zealand coal mine-owners are prepared to enter into a new national agreement, as the members of. this association consider that the results of the .working of, this form of agreement during the past year have pr6ved unsatisfactory, and that all local or district agreements are the only solution of the question owing to the varied conditions existing in New, Zealand mines.. . I have therefore to inform you that, unless .the proposals above mentioned are. withdrawn, it will'be impossible.for the coal mine-owners to agree'to a conference. If, however, they are definitely withdrawn bv_ your federation, I will arrange for a conference at a 6 early a. date as possible, but must reserve the right on behalf of the members of my association to submit such proposals aa they may deem neceasao-y to .amend existing agreements for discussion, at the 1 conference.