COAL INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 59, 11 March 1937, Page 10

COAL INDUSTRY

A NEW AGREEMENT

WAGES INCREASED

HIGHER RETAIL PRICES?

(By Telegraph— I'ress Association.)

AUCKLAND, March 10.

Complete agreement was reached between members of the New Zealand Coalmine Owners' Association and the New Zealand Miners' Federation, who agreed upon a 5 per cent, increase .in all day wages rates, plus alterations in certain working conditions and machinery clauses of the previous agreement. These terms apply to all mines in New Zealand, including State mines.

The Minister of Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb) said the outcome of the conference made him a pleased and happy man. The previous conference at Wellington last month had been without avail, and it was at his instance that the two parties came to Auckland last week to meet him here. He had warned them that if a satisfactory conclusion was not reached it might be necessary to make arrangements for coal to be imported.

At the close of the conference Mr. C. C. Davis, of Christchurch, told the Minister what had happened, and said that as a result all lower-paid workers in the mines would receive increases in pay. The owners expected the utmost co-operation from the miners and i Isased to have the assurance of the men's representatives that it would be given, and that friction, annoyance, and irritation tactics would be obviated. He was afraid it was inevitable in many instances that the concessions granted would mean a rise in the price of coal. MEN WILL DO THEIR PART. Mr. A. McLagan, national secretary of the New Zealand Miners' Federation, said he felt sure that many of the minor forms of irritation and disputes would be removed from the industry- The men would do their part. He congratulated Mr. Webb for bringing the parties together and facilitating an agreement between them.

The Minister said that if the spirit exhibited at the conference could be reproduced in every other industry in the country there would be.betterplanned ' organisation ■ > and better methods of production and distribution. The coal-mining industry should now be placed on a firmer basis, and if the large dairy factories kept their bins full in winter time it would materially help the mines to maintain their output throughout the year and bring contentment among those employed in the coal-mining industry. It was the duty of the men to co-operate with the owners in every practical and sensible way.

"The Government stands 100 per cent, against any faction which acts against the interests of the whole community," said Mr. Webb. "The success of this conference will mean much good to New Zealand. Had no agreement been reached, and had there been a prospect of the industry being dislocated, the Government would not have hesitated to get coal elsewhere."