AGREEMENT LIKELY

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 27 March 1926, Page 5

AGREEMENT LIKELY

IN COAL CRISIS.

FUTURE OF INDUSTRY.

NHW SCHEME SUGGESTED

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. LONDON, f Mareh 26. The owners and miners’ meeting yesterday ,were secret, but Mr. A. Cook (miners’ secretary) madte a statement that the delegate conference will not be called .until the owners formulate tlheir wages proposal. There are indications that a substantial majority on both sides are willing to accept- the- report. • .Everything depends on the wage issue. In the the Daily Etxpress political correspondent, outlines a. striking idea which might render the recommendations acceptable. The details are still nebulous, but it is)' understood' the Miners’ Federation and the Coal Owners Association reached a, line of agreement as to the future of the industry, under which it is proposed that a. cartel will be established similar to France and Germany, the miners abandoning the demand for .nationalisation, whilo the employers accept a modified measure of working control and form pit dijtricb committees. -jPte effect of the cartel will be to weld the industry into a homogeneous whole, and will invoice a drastic regrouping of pits, the establishment of a central selling agency,) common ownership of waggons, possibly municipal trading in coal, and the elimination of the worst evils of the system of the middlemen. The cartel 1 will also seek a European agreement on' wages, and hours. The miners will have a say in housing, baths, and welfare schemes.