THE COAL MINES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 162, 6 July 1918, Page 7

THE COAL MINES.

WAGES, QUESTION. (United Press Association-) WEaXUSTGTON, July 5: The Coalmine Owners' Association yesterday considered the Miners' Federation request for an increase of wages. Certain matters were left in the hands of the executive. The owners subsequently met the Acting-Premier and the Hons W. D. S. M'acDonald, A. M., Myers, and W. H. Herries. After discussion, the owners agreed to put their views in the form of a letter to the Minister of Mines. The Coalmine Owners' Association, which has been considering the request made by the Miners' Federation for an increase of wages, lias reported the result of its deliberations to the Minister of Mines. The following resolutions were passed unanimously:—Unit, as agreements have been entered into between individual coal owners anj individual, miners' unions, this association is of opinion that in the consideration of any question,of varying terms, any agreement should only be made between the contracting parties, and therefore the'request for a conference between the Miheo\vners' Association and the Miners' Federation is unnecessary ; that, as the' existing industrial agreements made under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act have only been recently entered into between the miners' unions and the respective mining companies, and have still a considerable period of currency, and as there are no justifiable "•rounds for any further increase in wages ?n view of the fact that the earnings of coalmine workers who work the full available time compare more than favourably with those of other classes of workers, the coalmine owners cannot see their way to agree to vary the terms of the existing agreements; that this meeting approved of the adoption of a bonus system dependent on full time being worked; that, in the opinion of the coalmine owners, the earnings of truckers can be considerably increased under a system of contract trucking, and the coalmine owners are prepared to agree to suitable amendments for the introduction of such a contract system. / The covering letter from the coalmine owners' secretary to the Minister concludes as follows :—"The association submits the above suggestions re the bonus system and contract trucking in the confident belief that if these systems _ are given a fair trial, they will result ma largely increased output of coal and in an incite of earnings of workers, and would o evr-nt any possible cause foi grievance existing. in the coalmines of the Dominion so far as the earning powei of the workers is concerned. I am lurther instructed respectfully to ask, if the Government approves of the above n- - posals regarding the operation of the bonus* system and the adoption of tiucK ing by contract, and is oE opinion that they would have the effects "indicated above, that strong be made to the members of cpSlmweis unions throughout the , and their patriotism be appealed to, with a view of securing the assistance of the workers to increase the output of coal. If the Government will assist in this way, and the workers will give : loyal 3 my association is- very of opinion that it will have the salt-, and should £u of industrial peace in the coalmines ot the Dominion for the period of the wai.