MINERS’ WAGES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 9 February 1927, Page 5

MINERS’ WAGES.

THE NORTHERN DISPUTE. SERIOUS CRISIS THREATENED. /'by cable—press association— copyright * SYDNEY, Feb. 8. In the Assembly, Air Booth, member for Newcastle, moved the adjournment of the House to discuss the situation on the northern coalfields. Air Booth said that unless something were done a serious crisis would be precipitated. He explained recently that the day ■wage men had been granted an increase of from Is 3d to Is fid daily. Ooincidently the coal owners increased the price of coal by Is fid per ton. The miners wanted local boards on the fields to deal with disputes arising from time to time, and an inquiry by the Federal Government as to whether • the increase in the .price of coal was justified. The increase meant a present of £850,000 to the owners yearly. Air Scott Fell, himself a coal owner, said that every increase granted to the miners was followed by further demands. They were too well paid. Foreign trade was almost entirely lost. ‘‘lf the minors want a fight, they can have it.” he exclaimed. “There will be only one result for them. That is absolute defeat. Supplies of coal ’.a Australia are at maximum.” Air Davies said Ihe principal grievance of the miners arose out of the working of bad or abnormal places in the mines. Where the miner could not. earn a decent living wage, he said, there should be a minimum living wage recoverable at law. After further discussion, the motion 4 was defeated by 45 votef to 36.