COAL CONFERENCE

Grey River Argus, 13 May 1944, Page 4

COAL CONFERENCE

Statement by Owners WORKERS’ CLAIMS REJECTED. P.A. WELLINGTON, May .12. The following statement has been issued by Mr. T. O. Bishop, representing the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners:—The conference between representatives of the mine workers and the coal mine owners, which commenced on Wednesday afternoon, concluded on the folowing day without result. On behalf of the workers a number of claims were put forward and debated. Replying, the mme owners said that in consideration or the short hours now being worked m coal mines and the greatly increased earning capacity of mine workers since the commencement of the war they had, after careful consideration, reached a conclusion that no increases of any kind were justifiable. Granting the final proposals of the workers would entail an addition to the national coal bill of about 12,500,000 per annum, and therefore the claims must be declined.