N.S.W. Coal Dispute

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 113, 30 April 1926, Page 5

N.S.W. Coal Dispute

N.S.W, COAL DISPUTE. MR LANG CONFIDENT. (Received 30, 10.40 a.m.) Sydney, April <3O. Mr Gibson, Secretary of tho Engine Drivers’ Firemen's Assocation, stales that although negotiations have not been re-opened ho is hopeful that the coal dispute will be amicably settled before the expiry of the association ’s ultimatum to the owners ou May 8. He described as futile Mr Kibble’s suggestion that the association should try to settle the trouble by constitutional nicans*JJ' •‘For over six years,” says Mr Gibson, “our members have followed constitutional methods and those methods have unfortunately landed our members in the position wo find ourselves in to-day. The position is that while in its metalliferous industries highly skilled craftsmen, namely, winding engine drivers, are paid from 33 to 50 per cent above the labourers' rate, in tfic coal mining industry they receive only 16 2-3 per cent more. These are tho Australian rates. In European countries winding engine drivers receive double tho rates paid tu labourers.” In reply to a question, Mr Lang said he had every confidence that the matter would be settled in the course of the next few days.—(A. and N.Z.)