ANOTHER CONFERENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10508, 9 February 1920, Page 5

ANOTHER CONFERENCE

COAL MINING DEADLOCK OWNERS’ AND 3IINERS’ REPRESENTATIVES TO MEET. PRI3IE MINISTER TO PRESIDE.

The following announcement was issued from tho Prime Minister’s office on Saturday:— “In connection with tho coal-miulng dispute, the Prime'*3linister has arranged to meet a conference of representatives of tho . New Zealand Coal Mine Owners’ Association and representatives of the Executive of tho Aimers’ Federation next Wednesday in Wellington.’’ The deadlock, which has continued for some mouths past in regard to a conference between the minors and mine-owners, has thus at last been brought to an end, "AN URGENT NECESSITY/' how the~pFblic ARE PENALISED. COAL AT £4 10s PER TON. Before the official announcement was made on Saturday a "Now Zealand Times” representative was assured that the proposal made that anothoi conference should be held or a separate tribunal set up by tho Government to deal with a .question affecting public interests, and industrial, commercial, and household requirements met with considerable approval, and it Was earnestly hoped that some method of solution of the difficult problem would eventually be adopted. So far as tht, official heads of the contending ‘parties are concerned no pronouncement was made ‘by cither 31r W. 3V. Pryor, secretary of the Coal .Mine Owners’ Association, 3IrJ. C. Arbueklo (secretary of the Minors’ Federation) or 3lr J. Roberts (of tho Alliance of Labour). This latter body has now been brought into the controversy by reason of tho fact that the points in dispute have been laid before it by the 3liners ! Federation, an affiliated body. The Coal 3line Owners’ Federation has declined, to recognise the Alliance of Labour in connection with the matters in dispute.

“I must strongly support the proposal for another conference or tho establishment of a separate tribunal,” said a representative Ncu‘ Zealand commereial man to a “Times” reporter on Saturday. “In fact, I would support any sensible proposal having for its object the settlement of this protracted dispute between the coal mine owners and the coal miners. *■ Tho present position is intolerable and cannot bo allowed to continue indefinitely. Tho whole of tho industrial life of New Zealand is so closely associated with securing an adequate coal supply that we simply cannot stand by and seo industry and trade placed in jeopardy because two sections of the community —sections certainly essential, but all tho same relatively small—are in opposition. They are like armed parties. Neither one nor the other will leave their trenches and come into “No Man's Land’’ to -discuss terms of tho armistice, if not of peace. I am not out to blame either one party or the other—possibly both parties have suffered injustices, and mayhap neither party is blameless. The coal mine owners and the Miner*’ Federation represent employer and employed, and rarely do' these sections seo eye to eye with each other. But the position has involved, and is involving, thousands of others quite outside the two parties actually engaged, and is seriously and injuriously affecting many industries, undertakings, and contracts. “Unless specially fortunately placed,” ho continued, “there are few industries, fflw Mstabliehmcntii, and /few homes not seriously and injuriously affected by the deadlock which has continued now for months. The last con- ! fercnce, held in Wellington, was not remarkable for the amity shown and there was a- disagreeable and disajipointing air of “armed neutrality”— a heavily-armed neutrality, I should describe it —about the parties. It appeared to the layman as though both parties had come to the conference with the strike threat and the baton argument very carelessly concealed. That’s not tho proper spirit to display. There isn’t much chance of conciliation holding sway under such conditions. Let mo repeat I am not apportioning blame; I am merely stating what were very obvious facts. THE PUBLIC PAYING. COAL £i 10s PEH TON.

"Now all this is wrong. The public are paying and suffering—suffering, many of them, in silence—and in the interests of. the people some definite action should bo taken by the Government to end the impasse. It seems to mo to be an astonishing state of affairs that in Mow Zealand the coal mine-owners and tho coal miners can hold up the coal supplies of tho Dominion, can cause heavy industrial losses, much public inconvenience, and great public and private hardship, and a Government professedly representing the people stands idly by as though it had no connection with tho dispute! Such a thing has occurred in no other part of the world. In times of crisis the people look to their representatives in Parliament and to the Government to protect them. There is no excuse. Tho Government cither cannot or will not come to tho rescue. If they cannot, why not Ibe candid, and say the position is beyond them. If they will not why not be as equally honest and straightforward and say so. And if they will, why in tho public’s interest don’t they doit? The present position cannot continue indefinitely. The

people are patient, hut they are chafing, and it is unwise to ■withhold curative measures until tho chafing develops a wo;md' which may prove difficult to heal. While important industries are simply living from hand to month, whilo publio services aro curtailed, and while people arc compelled to accept a sack of coal (when they can get it and pay at tho rate, including cartage, of (in ’samo cases), £4 10s per ton, it is no time for the Oovornment to shut its eyes to obvious facts, and supinely adopt a policy of “Wait and See." If it does persist in this shameful neglect of the public's/* interest, it will assuredly have its eyes opened with a suddenness that will astonish it.”