N.Z. COAL DISPUTE

Grey River Argus, 8 March 1937, Page 6

N.Z. COAL DISPUTE

SECOND CONFERENCE Will It Avert Imports ? I (Per Press Association.) .WELLINGTON, March 6. “It is absolutely essential that the utmost co-operation should prevail in the coal mining industry if it is t maintain its place in the industrial life of the community,’’ said the Minister . of Mines (Hon. P. C. :Webb) this mornina when announcing that he had arranged a further conference betwen the Coal Mine Owners’ Federation and the Miners’ Federation for the purpose of re-opening negotiations tor a new industrial agreement. . ' The Minister said that the eonier- ( ence would be held in Auckland on Tuesday next, and he was hopeful that a satisfactory settlement would be arrived at. : “There is a strong demand m some quarters for the importation of coal from overseas,’’ said Mr AVebb. “This should be resisted to the fullest extent but failing the local coal inuustry pro. ducing the country’s requirements, there will be no alternative but to import the coal essential for our eco. nomic requirements.’’ The Minister said that for the first time for many years practically the whole of the coal miners of New Zea. land had been working full time during the summer months. This was in strik. ing contrast to the intermittent relief that miners had to depend upon in order to live during the previous three or four years. “It is my desire,’’ he added, “to continue this regular employment as far as possible. This can only be done in my opinion, by a satisfactory arrangement being made with the larg'e consumers of coal to let their stocky run down in winter, when the domestic demand is at its peak, and to re. stock during the summer months, thus keeping the miners in'regular employ, ment. This principle was adopted in the past year with satisfactory results, “Any interrupation in the normal production of coal would reflect detri. mentally upon this principle, hence my action in calling the further confer, enee between the mine owners and the miners in an endeavour to bring about an amicable settlement of the differ, ences that now exist.”