Coal Conference.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 197, 6 August 1919, Page 6

Coal Conference.

OWNERS’ PROPOSAL'S REJECTED. MINERS CONCEDE POINTS OBJECTED TO. Wellington, August G. When the mining conference resumed today. Mr Roberts, on behalf of the men’s delegates, said that the latter considered the owners' so-called coun-ter-proposals submitted yesterday were merely canioflage oi the real position, in view ot the lact ot tlio Aimers’ Federation being unable to have access to tho books and accounts of the owners, the Federation made flic following proposals :■ — 1. — ta) That a Royal Commission lie appointed to inquire into and report on ttie coal iiun.ng industry. «)•/ Ino jiersoiiiMil or siicli commission to iw two representatives ot or.iter., ant t»i> ot tne Aimers' I-eileratioii. with an independent chairman. <i-f 1 tie commission lx> Hopoveriil to iia,e gci-.'-s io, and insiieci, ail

’ bftjk-. dGviiriu'r.t.', anvunl', cu-., ut all mining companies, to examine hiim -'<■*, aim in.-,>ei.t mine'. an<l 1 mining cun'lit>u*i.-» generad.*. 2. Hi.lt as tu-4 ••It*’.' Uulile i.y tlie <-m--1 p.i..e;-- uni; iigg."ts tnat the agreement be made m the -light ot kioour * eoiKlitmns gvneialiy. ami ilivicased ’ cost I>t H. Illg. the., tailed to see iiov. me .-iigge-imn contained in tlie cmp.otits eoiiiiter-pi'o|>«jsais (Clause 1) ..o.i.it alte- t a s t it.einerit la me d:spuie mi the lines suggt-nd in Clause 2. 3. liic reiieriition agreed to in-cuss a itii trie .state Junie me question oi uiiie'is* i• pie • nt.iu• es on me Hoard ot ' loiuroi. ami tiiruKT agind tnat oilier mti..rs -iioual i:a.e an oppurtlini:v ot . 101.-Ull.'i'lllg ill" pl.tjxis.li. lioueter, niey "1111 not consider tnat question -h>»iid pie.eiit industrial agree.le nt al m<- present coniei en< e. I. Ihe coal que tioli is of such vital important e tii.it tn tne opinion ot tin* rcoeiuuon the housing question and proper sanitary conditions at all mining •owns was a it oik tnat the Alining amt Health Departments should unileriaKe unit.eih.iteLt. 'lnc offer ot coal owners in le-pet t ot loans tor houses was en- j tiir.y a Government question, and tottid not In- conceded by owners. ] 5. Ihe qiH 'iKui ot superannuation to J rw • I>ti-i<le;ed v. hen the report ot me: itoval Commission was presented. | .llr Roberts said t!c- counter-pro- ! ju-als <ontain>'<i nothing at ail as iarj a- industrial agreement was concerned. | li..- 1c i. ration wanted the public to' I-..tile true (X>.mon. Workers could

not agree that theie would be a <i<-— in output. The Federation had < <>usid:*red the counter-proposals fully ami had d*i id-d that they were not acceptable. .Mr O Rourke said he wanted to tell the owner, candidly that there via., ate Miinteiy m:thing in their proposals ii]M>n .•ha h tmy cvu.d cease their endeavour <o heal lue breach ami get over the diXin ulty. 11-. e Federation had no desire to see an upheaval, nor did they ■vaut to people starved for coal'. I hey tv.t that it conditions were inip.o.ed more men would engage in niinmg. However, in order to bring aliout a .-altstuclory arrangement they were pripared ll hold over in the meantime the five points objected to in the hope that the owners would then lie prepared io discuss the remaining planks m tiieir demands. If the owners did not a>.c>pt, the onus would l>e on their aeirds. if an agreement was arrived at, it was for the rank and tile to say •vhet.ie; it was acceptable or not. An adjournment until 2 o’clock this afternoon was agreed to in order to „ive < ■'. tiers an opportunity to prepare » reply. WORLD'S COAL SUPPLY. VIEWED WITH GRAVITY. GM.Y ONE REMEDY. London. Aug. 3. liie Supreme Economic Council met ■ii L*.:.d-in denr.g the week-end and . >e*ved the I.’tropran coal situation .vith utmost gravity. Production ;.a* fa’ten d-ingewisly lew and it is i;n.to decrease tho consumption -urliveHitiy to meet the det’:*-it. owing to •"•citial iniiuruur: requirament>. The inly yeti’edy is to im.reilse product :«t in i in.pi >i.,.i dull!.>n and organisa- :■■■:. T: ■ . - - e.t ,i:..i t*- *1 t i:e Bri I ish lUtput I- 1' -||<A» lens, which does 101 suffice tor internal consumption, rtaly’s piv-iwet, are considered grave in view of trie ee-'at.vn of British extiorts. —(A. mid N.Z.)