COAL INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 51, 2 March 1937, Page 10

COAL INDUSTRY

NEW AGREEMENTS

MINISTER'S HOPE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

HAMILTON. This Day,

Keen disappointment that the .conference between the coal miners' representatives and the' Coal Mine Owners' Association in Wellington last week regarding new agreements had been abortive was expressed by the Minister of Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb), when interviewed last night prior to joining the Limited express for Wellington. The Minister said he j felt that both sides should adopt the most reasonable attitude possible, realising the magnitude of the issues involved, and he hoped that better counsel would prevail so that a settlement would soon be achieved.

If the coal industry was to maintain its present position in the life of the industrial community it was highly essential that the utmost co-operation between all parties should prevail, said Mr. Webb. He was quite sure' that •the public appreciated the arduous nature of the miners' livelihood, while on the other hand it must .be conceded that the people who had invested capital in the mines were entitled to a reasonable return for the money at stake.