MINERS' DEMANDS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 1 August 1918, Page 7

MINERS' DEMANDS.

FEDERATION REPLY TO EM-

PLOYEKS.

CB_ TELEGRAPH —PP.ESS ASSOCIATION.) ... WELLINGTON, Aug. 1. ' The Miners' Federation to-day issued a reply to the mine owners in connection with the former's demand for a 20 per cent increase in wages. It is contended by the Federation that the owners' statement of the case is weak and feeble.

The following are the chief points made: That the coal owners' calculation of wages agrees with that of the Miners' Federation; that the average yearly working time of a miner, as put forward by the Federation, has not been proved wrong, but, on the contrary, has been confirmed; that the estimate of the yearly income of a miner, as put forward by the Miners' Federation, has not been affected, but, on the contrary, if anything has been reduced; that the yearly outlay, as estimated by the Federation, has not been denied ; and that the coal output has increased since the war very substantially, as proved by the Hon. A M. Myers' and Hon. W. D. S MaeDonald's statements.

The Federation adds: In view of this we feel sure that all reasonable people will agree that there has been no sound reason advanced by the coal owners why there should not be a conference. We are still in favor of a conference taking place, and we believe that such would be in the best interests both of the parties concerned and the country generally.