WORK MAY CEASE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 29 April 1926, Page 5

WORK MAY CEASE

ON AUSTRALIAN COALFIELDS. CONFERENCE BREAKS DOWN THE ISSUES IN DISPUTE. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received 11.55 a.m. to-day. SYDNEY, April 29. As a result 'of the coal conference adjourning sine die, stoppages at the collieries throughout New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, appear to be inevitable when the ultimatum expires on May 8. Besides rendering idle 1200 engine-drivers, it will involve about 30,000 miners and operatives. The cause of the breakdown of the conference was the claim 'of the employees for the restoration of certain marginal differences which were lost under the Hibble award. The men demanded that the ovvnei-s should grant the margins to them. The owners refused, but stated they were pepared to allow the matter to ,go before a special tribunal. The men’s representaties refused this offer. Judge Hibble, in a statement at the conclusion of the conference, emphasised that the award did not in one. single instance reduce wages or lower conditions ; on the contrary, the owners had given substantial increases • f Is to Is 6d daily, besides in many respects improved working conditions. It was true the full marginal differences between the base rates and the higher paid men had not been maintained, as in the circumstances, it had been tound impossible to do so. He warned the engine-drivers that their contemplated action was quite illegal, notwithstanding tli e fact that 14 days’ notice 1 had been given. This should be withdrawn and proper constitutional measures re'ied upon.