FRICTION IN MINES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17449, 20 April 1920, Page 4

FRICTION IN MINES.

-O- 1 THE NEW AGREEMENT. DISSATISFACTION REPORTED. MEN LOOKING FOR TROUBLE. I [by telegraph—own- correspondent.] "WELLINGTON". Monday. j Reports of friction over the interprets ; tion of the new agreement are coming ' from the coal mines. The officers of the Miners' Federation are disposed to attach ' importance to the difficulties that have ' arisen, and the representatives of the , mineowners admit that there has been ■ considerable trouble at some of the mines, i The agreement provides that in the j event of any dispute as to interpretation I the parties shall refer to the official report of the conference at which the agree- | ment was framed. But this method of ; settlement has not proved effective. The ; agreement provides also for the setting ■ up of disputes committees if required. "The miners seem to to be looking for i trouble," said a mineowner to-day. ! "They have pot a 50 per cent, increase . in wages over the prewar level and ; various improvements in conditions. ; They accepted the new agreement- on the j recommendation of their own delegates, . and the points on which disputes have | since arisen are of no real importance. Yet it appears that some of the men are actually threatening another stoppage. My own impression is that wiser counsels will prevail."