COAL MINERS' DISPUTES.

Evening Star, Issue 13016, 29 July 1908, Page 1

COAL MINERS' DISPUTES.

UNSUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE.

MEN PREFER THE COURT,

A HEARING OR NO WORK.

With the exception of questions involving increased expenditure, the second day's business of the coal mining conference at Green Island yesterday was discussed calmly, and more or 'less satisfactorily dealt with. The financial issues, however, always led to difficulty and deadlock. A discussion on the definition of wet places led to animated argument and threats to part company. The tact of the chairman (Mr P. Hally, of the Labor Department) turned the tide of dissension towards the shore of settlement, which it /never reached- Eventually, all the thirty clauses of the employees' reference were considered. Many—those dealing with money—were left in abeyance; several were amended and agreed to; a few were struck out. Unanimity proved unobtainable on the clauses dealing with the introduction of weighbridges, the-fixing of shift wages, the trucking distance, and the truckers' wages. These questions were held over for consideration and decision by the Arbitration Court. Conditions governing the sharpening of tools, timbering, the distribution of trucks, the payment of aged and infirm workers, and leave of absence to workmen attending to union business were adjusted satisfactorilv and adopted. As previously decided, the clauses adjusted stand as a definite and binding agreement for both parties. The conference adjourned at 6.30 p.m. until after the miners' representatives attended a general meeting of the Green Island. miners, reported on the business effected at the conference, and obtained the men's opinions as to future action. Before the miners' representatives left the conference, Mr W. R, Brugh asked the workers' delegates to place the employers' terms before the men. In the meantime the owners could not possiblv offer more than 2d per ton. If they fought the case out on its merits in the Court, and the Court decided that an"* increase of 4d per ton had to be given, they would have to submit to it. He hoped that the workers woidd abide by the decision of the Court also, no matter what rates were fixed. The conference had been conducted in excellent spirit, and would be productive of much good to both parties. M J" -A. Forbes asserted that a just report would be given to the men, and that every effort would be used to avoid drastic action. He felt sure that the men would abide by the decision of the Court, as they had done in tho.past. The opening business of the general meeting was briefly and unanimously effected. It was decided to exclude the Press representatives. THE MINERS' TERMS. Mr A. Love presided at the genera] meeting of the men. Business was effected m camera. After receiving the delegates' report of the conference, and advice against drastic action, the meeting unanimously resolved : —"That this meeting does not approve of anything done at the conference, and that the employers' offers be not entertained." An invitation to visit the Drill Hall and hear the decisions of the men was sent to the employers, who accepted. n Mr A. Forbes detailed the business of the general meeting, and said that the men had arrived at the following conclusion : That the Green Island branch would accept nothing below the 4d asked for, with weighbridge, shift wages, and yardage rates.—(Cheers.) And, continued Mr Forbes, I may mention that it never was at any time the intention of the Green Island miners to co out on strike, as has been reported in the papers. The men have been, with one exception, working under rotten laws and ret! en management, and have been only waiting on the next sitting of the Arbitration Court. That is why the men have hung to their guns so long. If the Court cannot grant the request of the men, the miners will have to cease work and go away and get an existence in seme other colony.—(Cheers.) They cannot live under present conditions, and therefore they are going to knock off work and get work elsewhere. Mr Love said the men were fully informed of all that had transpired at the conference, and their decision had been unanimous.

Mr A. Weston (district president) said that although the conference had ended unsuccessfully the men's delegates thereto had met .with the best and most considerate treatment at the hands of the employers. They could not have found a more capable or more impartial chairman than Mr Hally, whose control of the conference had helped it as far as it was possible to do towards a satisfactory settlement.

Mr P. Hally said none regretted more than he did that the conference had not been successful. It was not the fault of the miners' representatives that things had turned out so; the unfortunate thing was that the hands of the latter wcro tied. They went there to do their very best for the men, conditionally, of course, that the owners accepted the hewing rate of 4d per ton. The employers, however, decided that they -could not give more than 2d—and it was impossible that anything more could be done. He believed the conference had done good, for it showed that the men were not disposed to go against the law in furthering their demands, and he felt sure that the men would,not break the law. They had met tho employers by tho recommendation of the Court, and he urged them to go again before the Court, for the Court would give them a failsettlement. As for tho conference and his connection with it, ho could assure them it had been a pleasure to preside over it. He was only sorry that nothing had come of it. " I believe now," said Mr Hally, " at the eleventh hour it may be possible to fix things up. Remain quietly at your work, and allow your representatives to gather all possible information about your conditions of work, and submit the whole matter to the Arbitration Court." Mr W. R. Brugh said that, though sorry to see that the conference was unsuccessful, he did not think the whole matter was ended : that while present efforts towards a settlement had proved abortive it would bear better fruit in the That nothing had come of it was certainly not due to Mr Hally, who, as chairman deserved the greatest credit for his control of the meeting. Evidently there was nothing else for it but to take the case to the Arbitration Court, where he believed an amicable adjustment of their differences might be obtained. The employers had every faith in tho Court <>f Arbitration, and he believed he was correct in assuming that the men had also. " No, ' cried the employees loudly Mr Brugh : Well, I feel sure you will take the best steps possible for a settlement of the matters in dispute. I think that in the course of the next few months all this will have blown over, and you will recognise then that you have been asking too much. "No, no, no," replied the men. Mr A. P. Bremner, an employer, expressed his appreciation of Mr Hally as chairman of the conference.

Mr Forbes: "Well, the thing is at rin cud. When wo go before the Ckmrt I am going to fight vou tooth end nail, and wife the. "assistance and hoiwbty of the miners and the same on the other side, we will beat you. —(Loud applause.) If we cannot get

justice from the Arbitration Court, th« miners are going to seek work elsewhere." —(Cheers.) The meeting then ended.