A DEADLOCK

Grey River Argus, 19 April 1929, Page 5

A DEADLOCK

Over N.S.W. Coal Mines OWNEBB WANT WAGE CUT. SYDNEY, April 17. The negotiations for a settlement of the eval dispute have resulted in a deadlock, and the breach is now as wide as ever. A conference of the parties, called by the Federal Prime Minister and Mr Bavin, was held for several days under th' chairmanship of Sir Wailace Bru.ce of Adelaide. It discussed (he cost of production, wage reduct ion, and eflimiination of pinpricks, •fher’lifter the miners’ delegate submitted their proposals to the owners’ delegates who unanimously rejected tli] an.* These proposals required the re-opening of the mines on the original basis, the investigation of the owners’ books, and provision by the owners of a shilling a ton on thy* selling price of coal towards a fund for alleviation of the Northern miners not re-absorbed in this industry. The owners’ counter-proposals, which prere rejected, insisted that the cost of production be reduced by some Tomb of wag* reduction, and the discontinuance of the evil arising from virtuija contrlol of the mines by the unions. WILL OWNERS SHIFT IT! N.S.W. MINERS’ CHALLENGE. (Received April 18, at 8.55 p.m) SYDNEY, April 18 The Coal Miners’ Federation issued a statement at the conclusion of the Coal Conference to-day, when the negotiations for a settlement of tK4 dispute completely broke down. The Federation declares: It is quite appartmt that the owners will agree to the re-opening of the mines lonfly on own terms, to which the miners will not agree. 4 ‘Tift Federation have reiterated their challenge to th© mine owners for a searching inquiry into the coal industry.