THE COAL INDUSTRY.

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 May 1917, Page 7

THE COAL INDUSTRY.

TELEGRAMS

SATISFACTORY SETTLEME NT. NO FURTHER STOPPAGE. [Tiy Electric Telegraph—Special to "Star."] WELLINGTON, May 12. Though tho official (statement upon the conference of mine owners and miners isi not available till Monday, it i. understood that the re&ult will be satisfactory. There is no likelihood ef a further stoppage of coal production. THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS. THE MINERS' DEMANDS. REJECTED BY THE OWNERS. [Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The colliery owners' representatives at a conference with the miners' re- ; prese'.itatives on Satin day, ■ made, a statement covering' the negotiations ] which had proved aboitive. It was ] pointed out at the February confer- - ...,,,.. 'i,„* 4i... \i:..„....< i.'.j j- ..

once mat the Miners Federation M.bmitted demands consisting of .••eventeen clauses' with the intention <-f securing a Dominion agreement, applicable to all the mines,. The clauses included one for a 17. V per cent increase on tho existing' rates- of pay, equal to :>Jh per cent on the pre-war rate;., while the other demands for drastic alterations in tho working conditions would further sub stantially increase the cost of production. The employers' counter proposals wore 5 per cent to contract workers and Tk per cent to wages men, additional to the 10 per cent war bonus already granted. This, was refused by the Federation. Last week the miners submitted their original seventeen clauses and three more. The employers decided that owing t - the diverse natural conditions and different classes, of coal and the varied methods <d' mining, it was impos-

sible to adopt any single set ot conditions for all mines'. The employers then offered the following:—-That, iiibject to (he working conditions remaining as at present, Hie owners offer a war bonus on pre-war rates of 7J- per cent to contract workers and 10 per cent to wages men, making 17& per cent increase to contract men and 20 per cent to wages men compared with pre-war rates, these to remain in force for the duration of the war and six months after. The employers intimated that this was the limit whereto they would sro and must be accepted as a final offer. The owners' stated that in view of the high wages' earned prior to the adoption of the "go slow' 'policy they could not admit any reason why the rates should be increased. If the additional bonus was accepted it would mean the distribution of at least £'03,000 per annum among the miners, making', with the 10 per cent granted last year, a total of £135,000 over the pre-war rates, the whole of which would have to come out of the consumers' pockets. The minor s had a long conference with the Hon. Sir James Allen on Saturday. Later Sir James Allen asked the employers' representatives to meet him. and he submitted a pro-

posai irom me mea lor me grant <-u concessions in working conditions! .as well as a war bonus. If the- demand regarding the conditions is granted, it is understood that the men are willing to settle. The owners' representatives indicated that they definitely reflined to modify their latest offer. Therefore they would not. concede the special conditions. Sir James Allen yesterday informed tho men of this reply. It is now stated that the owners will'cite all unions individually under the Arbitration Act.