COALMINERS' WAGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18663, 20 March 1924, Page 8

COALMINERS' WAGES.

NORTH ISLAND WORKERS. REQUEST FOR REVISION. fay. Twr.gnn APH. OWN , COBJtKSI'OKDENT.J WELLINGTON. Wednesday - Negotiations - have -'Been in train for some weeks between the New Zealand Miners' . Federation and ; the New Zealand Coalmine Owners!! . Association in regard to a request from the miners that the rates of pay and altered *' <x>nditions' gained lby the West Coast miners as a result of the recent dispute in that district should be conceded to the miners in other districts. - The Coalmine Owners' Association has declined to grant the increases asked, but it has intimated that it is prepared to consider the making of new awards in districts other than thij West Coast provided that the Miners' Federation agrees to have this done in accordance' with ' constitutional methods.

The secretary of the Coalmine Owners' Association, Mr. T. 0. Bishop, has received, while negotiations have been in progress, the following communication from- the secretary of the North Island Miners' / District Council:— have been instructed by my council to .make a. request to you for * a conference between representatives of the Coalmine Owners'. Association and the North Island District Council, to discuss the. revision of wages and conditions of work for the miners of the North Island.',' In forwarding this to the secretary of the Coal-*, miners' / Federation, Mr. P. O'Kourke, Mr. Bishop asks whether ho iai to take the letter- as an- indication that tljM miners in the North Island ajre repudiating Mr. O'Rourke's right to act on their behalf. . ' .

Mr. O'Rourke has sent a circular to the # unions affiliated to thff Miners' Fede- ! ration, in which he comments on the principle involved in Mr. Bishop's letter. He states. that the., matter will need careful investigation by the miners in the northern district, who are out for' national unity. He adds : that there is nothing ,that creates a better opportunity lor delay in any negotiations than j for two parties to ; open discussions at the same time. , • '

west COAST BELIEF .fund. SUM OF £8992 RAISED. i [BY TELEGHAPH.—OWN COIUiESI'ONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The balance-sheet prepared by the New Zealand Miners' Federation in connection with frinds forwarded through it to the West Coast for the - relief of miners' de-, pendants during the recent steppage, shows iiHat a total -of £8992 was raised. Of that amount. £7644 was subscribed by' miners'in Australia, . .while £1255 -was raised by the New Zealand Alliance-of Labour, £67 by members of various unions, . while the remainder was donated by individual' subscribers. On the exP| n^° r ® side of the statement, a sum of £8946 is shown as . having been paid - in' relief, " th© sum of £1 4s Bd, beintr in. cables, etc. There is a balance of £44 in the bank. v