SETTLED AT LAST

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 February 1920, Page 5

SETTLED AT LAST

THE COAL OUTLOOK. CONFERENCE ENDS. SATISFACTORY SETTLEMENT. FULL OUTPUT RESUMED. (Per Press Association, j WELLINGTON, February 21. The Coal Conference has concluded its deliberations. ; The Prime Minister announces that, a settlement has been reached, There is agreement on all questions in dispute. The terms of the settlement -re nut available yet. (Special to Star.) WELLINGTON, This day. One of the conditions agreed to at the Coal Conference was that the full output should be resumed ' and the agreement, after ratification this morning, is being submitted to individual unions and it is understood, comes into operation upon approval without the necessity of a ballot. COPIES OF AGREEMENT. SENT TO SECRETARIES. ifer Press Association... WELLINGTON, Tins day. The minutes of the conference were confirmed by delegates this morning. Copies of the draft agreement have been dispatched to the various Unions and all answers are expected to be in the hands of the secretary of the Miners' Federation in about eight or nine days. J4INERS ARRIVE. PARTY FROM AUSTRALIA. OFFER TO BRITISH WORKERS. WELLINGTON. Feb- If The Moeraki, which reached Wellington on Tuesday last, brought 29 miners from Wales, via. Australia. The men, who were en their way to Westport, were accompanied by 16 wives and 12 children. It is expected that they will be followed by other Welsh miners, since reports of the shortage of coal ami* of labour in New Zealand have been published widely in Great Britain. The existing wages and condition* of the New Zealand mining industry look attractive to men employed in the Welsh coalfields. Miners who decide to come to New Zealand from Great 'Britain are eligible, for instance, under the scheme announced recently by the Dominion Government, to receive a grant of £l3 per head for themselves and their wives towards their passage money. It appears that if they are discharged soldiers they are also eligible for free passages under the British ' Government's schema,, but the emigration of miners is not likely to be encouraged by the British authorities at the present tim&t

The Government some time ago published in Australia an announcement that miners weve required in New Zealand, and could earn good wages. The Miners' federation, it will be remembered, 'took stops to make this invitation ineffective. Anyminers who may come to New Zealand from Australia do so at their own expense, the Government not making any payment towards their passage money

The Mine,-; Department, it may bo mentioned, is able to offer employment to many additional men at the State mines, so that there will be no trouble about finding employment for new arrivals. The need for additional miners in the State- mines, and' also iu the private mines, lias no connection with the coal dispute and the go-slow policy. There is an actual shortage of labour, which would persist even if all the men at present employed were working ju a normal fashion.

MINERS FOR WESTPORT

ARRIVALS FROM SYDNEY

The scarcity of miners at the various 2\ T ew Zealand collieries has been one of the principal causes of the reduced output of coal, and

"e position seems to become more aggravated each month. A small contribution to the mining population of the Dominion arrived at "Wellington on Tuesday night by the Mooraki from .Sydney, says the "Westport Times." The vessel bronq-ht colliers from. Wales with sixteen wives and Iwelvo children, who are on their vray lo Westport; Tho men are of a sturdy type and should prove an acceptable acquisition* to the country.

Some fifteen of the above miners together with several women, arrived at Westport by car on Friday, a batch nutting"up at Price's Post Office Hotel. About twentv of the Welsh "■>-■"o-p and families arrived overland from Nelson on Thursday nio-ht, and others . (say's the "News") will arrive by the Komata. They include singers, footballers, runners, boxers, and other snorts, and should be an acquisition to the district. IMMIGRATION; MINERS COMING TO DOMINION. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, February 21. Immigrants are beginning to . arrive here, and among them are some who wish to settle on the land. To-day 1 met with an Englishman who-, with his two sons, who were officer's! in ~Vag army, is on the look-out for land. Miners are- also -beginning to cume from both Australia and the United Kingdom, the latter attracted by, the good wages given fliere. Other miners are likely to follow in then* wake. Mirers Avho come to New Zealand from Gieat Britain are eligible for assistance, under the scheme announced recently by the Dominion Government;. They may receive a grant" b[ £l3 per head for themselves and their wives towards their passage" money. ' - If they r.re discharged soldiers they »re eligilile for free passages under the British Government's schema, but the emigration of miners is not likely to be oncpuraged\by the British authorities at present. : The Government som'e time announced in Australia that, miners vey required in New '■ Zen-land, and o^pM r-trrrn good wages, The Miners' Federation took steps to make this in-