STATE COAL MINE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7023, 11 January 1910, Page 6

STATE COAL MINE

HOW THE TROUBLE WAS SETTLED. HON. R. McKENZIE EXPLAINS. GREYMLOUTH, January 10. The Hon. R. -UcKeimo, -Minister of Mines, speaking at, a reception accorded him at Greyrnotith, said he had made tho trip to the West Coast for the special purpose of dealing with the trouble at the State mine. An erroneous impression had gained ground that the trouble was really settled oil the occasion of the visit of the miners' delegates to AV'ellington, but this was not tho case. No settlement had been arrived at there, and after offers had been made—and refused—to allow a Supreme Court Judge or a Conciliation Commissioner to arbitrate in the matter, he decided to fall ill with a suggestion that ho should go to Greymouth and endeavour to settle the trouble himself. This he did, after fully arming himself with the facts of the case from tho Stato point of view T-a course which it was imperative for him to take as the trustee of tho peoplo'a interests. Of course, in coming to a decision, which ho arrived at before meeting the men at Runanga, he had some guides, notably the Seddonville agreement, to work upon. .Qe laid it down that the State employees should not be asked to work under conditions inferior to those _ ruling in the local privately-owned mines. Thus he had made three offers to tho men, viz. : To accent oither of tho Denniston or Granity awards, or to go under the Seddonville agreement. Ass issue of tho negotiations things were practicallv in the samo position as before. The Stato had offered to undertake the wholo of the trucking provided there. was a reduction in tho hewing rate to compensate for this concession. Tho final agreemont was that tho miners should truck twenty-two yards, that tho Stato should truck twentyeight yards, and that the Seddonville hewing rates should apply. The latter was really equivalent to a reduction of twopence Tf>cr ton in the hewing rate. Ho was gratified that a settlement had been reached, and trusted that tho industry would continue to flourish.