THE COAL TROUBLE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17877, 24 August 1918, Page 9

THE COAL TROUBLE.

GOVERNMENTS DECISION. CONFERENCE OR ROYAL COMMISSION.^ MEN URGED TO RESUME WORK. [Pin Phess Association.] WELLINGTON, August 23. The decision of the Government on the coal mines trouble is that if the coal owners do not agree to meet delegates of the Minors' Federation in conference a Royal Commission is to be set up to investigate all items in the total cost of coal to the consumer, including tho hewing; rates paid to tho miners. One of the conditions to be insisted on is that the men must go back to work at once 'Messrs Semple, O'Rourko' and Parry have agreed to this condition, andleit for the Coast after telegraphing a request to the strikers to go back to work. The mine owners will meet on Wednesday to consider tho suggestions of the Government. Tho proposed constitution of tho Commission is:—Two representatives of the miners and two of tho owners are to be chosen by the two bodies interested, and these four members are to elect a fifth to sit as chairman. It is expected that the minors on strike will return' to work next week.

POSITION AT WESTPORT.

[Pes Press Association.] WESTPORT, August 23. A combined meeting of colliers resident at Millerton and Granity yesterday decided, by 268 votes to 13, not to resume work.

It is difficult to find out tho exact nature of tho ballot put to tho men. If something is not done even Westport will experience a coal shortage before long. There is practically no storage, and supplies are very limited. It is understood that Mr Semple sent a plea to tho minca's to continue working in the meantime until some arrangement had been come to. Developments aro' anxiously awaited by the tradespeople. STOCKTON TROUBLE. [Pek Press Association.] GREYMOUTH, August 23. Word has been received hero that tho Stockton troublo has been settled and work will be resumed on Monday. - WESTPORT, August 23. A meeting of mine mauagors and deputies, representing tho Buller and Grey districts, was held in Westport this afternoon in reference to tho disrate at the Westport Stockton Company's mine. It is understood that an amioablo settlement was reached find that the men will resume work on Monday. Millerton Is still idle, but Denniston is working away as usual.

STATE MINE WORKING.

[Per Press Association.] GREYMOUTH, August 23. Tho miners at Roa and Blackball are still out. The State mine is working as usual. A meeting of tho State Miner/}' Union was to havo been held to-night, but was put off on receipt, of a telegram from Wellington winch intimated that members of the federation would arrive hero on Saturday evening and confer with tho miners on Sunday, putting before them the Government's proposals. The State miners will be working to-morrow.

BLACKBALL MINERS.

Telegraphio information received at tho head offico of the Blackball Coal Company in Christchurch yesterday was to the effect that the men employed at the Blackball mine are still idle.