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Evening Star, Issue 19290, 1 July 1926, Page 14

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A COMPLETE AGREEMENT [Pee United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, June 30. The conference between the North Island coal mine owners and tho union representatives concluded to-day at Huntly with an agreement on all the questions in dispute. The now agreement was approved by both parties, tho men’s delegates making their consent, however, subject to ratification by tho unions. Tho mines affected by tho agreement are those of Glen Alton, Pukomiro, Waipa, and Taupiri. With respect to the remaining mines— Hikurangi and Wilson’s Collieries—certain clauses of local application were deferred for consideration in Auckland to-morrow. In accordance with the undertakings given by the union delegates yesterday, tho men will work eleven ’days per fortnight, thus continuing tho previous practice of working on Saturday mornings. Piece rates of pay remain unaltered, but wage rates have been increased in some instances to bring them to the level of the rates existing in the West Coast collieries. No increases have been granted to boys under seventeen years,, of age, and of the total_ adult wage| about 50 per cent, remain unaltered. 'The unions having cancelled their registration under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, preference to unionists was withheld until such time as they register themselves under the Incorporated Societies Act, as they have agreed to do, or alternatively until they agree to register the agreement arrived at, as provided by tho Labor Disputes Investigation Act. The duration of the agreement is for a period of two years from the date of its ratification. It will come into force at the commencement of the first clay a fortnight after ratification. The general clauses of the agreement, occupying about two-thirds ol the whole, are applicable to Hikurangi and Wilson’s collieries, in addition to those of the Waikato. There are, however, certain special clauses covering local conditions which will have to he considered separately. These will ho discussed at a meeting of the_ owners and the union representatives in Auckland to-aaorraWw