SOUTHLAND COAL MINES

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 March 1933, Page 5

SOUTHLAND COAL MINES

CONFERENCE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

[PEB PBEBB ASSOCIATION.]

CHRISTCHURCH, March 9

At the request of the Minister for Labour (Mr Adam Hamilton) representatives of the coal-owners and the miners met in the Conciliation Commissioner’s rooms, yesterday, in an endeavour to end the dispute that has kept the Southland mines idle since October of last year. The discussion was of an informal nature, and was taken in committee. Mr T. O. Bishop, secretary of the New Zealand Coal Owners’ Federation, stated the miners’ representatives had asked that reconsideration should be given to five points in the proposals submitted by the owners at the previous conference. Briefly they were: (1) The right of mine owners to let work by contract; (2) rates for piece work; (3) the question of trucking by miners; (4) the “hire and fire” clause which reserved the right to the employers to shorten hands as might be necessary; (5) a safeguarding clause to secure coal being filled reasonably free from dross. Those attending the conference were: Employees, Messrs J. Smeaton (President), A. McLagan (secretary, United Mino Workers of New Zealand), Edmonds, Prendeville, and Donaldson (Southland Mnes). Employers, Messrs T. O. Bishop (the Federation), H. McAlister (Linton), W. Excell (Wairaki), and W. Crawford (Mossbank). The result of the conference was that the miners’ reqresentatives decided to submit the matter, as far as it has gone, to their unions on Sunday.