COAL INDUSTRY

Grey River Argus, 11 August 1925, Page 5

COAL INDUSTRY

WEST COAST CONFERENCE;. ENGINE MEN'S WAGES. \\ A wage epnfereuce affecting the est Coast mine engineers, firemen, witchmin, etc., was held in Reefton on Wednesday and Thursday fast, August \. it and ii. There were present Mossfis Bishop, Parsonage. Brown, Crow)' Marshall, McCormick (representing th 4 coal owners), and Messrs Whittle V .( Balderstone (Miners' Council), J. Miu-n chin (Roa), 11. Neilson Mid J. Kerr (Blackball), W. Richards (D t. mist on), J. Sineaton (Grey Valley),, and 11. Evans (Ngakawau). The miners presented demands for increased wages and improved conditions.- The coal owners, oni the other hand, wanted a substantial reduction in wages, stressing the unsatisfactory con ditiou of the. coal trade, and making a comparison with the r|to of wages for similar work throughout New Zealand.

Mr Bishop (Mine Owners’ Secretory) was well loaded with- data and agreements, with a view to making out ;i ease for a reduction in wages', and in this, ho was supported by his colleagues. The representatives of the workers, however, made out a strong case for maintaining the present standard ol living, mud improved conditions, ano, after a long argument, the coal owners submitted what they termed their final offer for the workers involved either to accept or reject. The terms offered were- substantially the old agreement with a few slight improvements. The owners’ terms are to be submitted to the unions concerned 'for their ratification. The agreement, if endorser!., will ('Over the whole of the indiHtrial district of Westltui'd.