AGREEMENT REACHED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18711, 17 May 1924, Page 9

AGREEMENT REACHED.

COAIMINEBS' WAGES.

CONFERENCE IN LONDON.

yj . . . , » TERMS TO GO TO THE MEN.

MAY NOT BE ACCEPTED.

OWNERS' EXTRA BURDEN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 10.35 p.m.} A. and N.Z -Renter. LONDON. May 18. The conference between representatives of the coalmine owners and the miners, in accordance with the recommendation of the recent Court of Inquiry, resulted in un agreement on the subject of wages. The terms are to be submitted to ' the men's delegates at- a conference called for May 29.

The secretary of the Miners' Union. Mr. Cook, states that his executive is not satisfied that the proposals will meet the full requirements of the men, although it will recommend a settlement. He still believes the only final settlement of the dispute will be by the voluntary unification of the industry, the pooling of the proceeds or a nationalisation scheme.

The new agreement will mean several million pounds a year extra in wages to the miners, said Mr. Cook, but we shall have difficulty in persuading the men to agree to it, as they are convinced that they are entitled to a living wage equal to that of 1914. Mr. Finlay Gibson, representing the South ales coalmine owners', stated that the minimum wage agreed upon will add from Is 3d to Is 8d per ton to the cost of production, though the profit during the period of the last agreement in South Wales averaged only Is Id per ton. This was a serious position, as South Wales was entirely dependent on the export trade, and came into competition with American and European coal. It was probable, added Mr. Gibson, that many of the collieries would be unable to carry on. Notices of dismissal had already been given to 3000 men, and probably another 3000 would be dismissed at the end of next week.