CONFERENCE FAILS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12434, 30 April 1926, Page 4

CONFERENCE FAILS

AUSTRALIAN COAL DISPUTE ENGINEDRIVERS TO STOP WORK ALL MINES WILL BE IDLE By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyrieht. SYDNEY, April 29. As the result of the coal conference having adjourned sine die, stoppages of the collieries throughout New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania appear inevitable when the ultimatum expires on May Bth. Twelve hundred engine-drivers, and about 30,000 miners and operatives will be idle. The cause of the breakdown of the conference was the claim of the employees for the restoration of certain marginal differences which were lost under the Hibble anvard. The men demanded that tho owners should grant these margins to them. The owners re - fused, hut stated that they were prepared to allow the matter to go before

a special tribunal. The men’s representatives refused this offer. Mr Hibble, chairman of the Coal Tribunal, in a statement at the conclusion of the conference, emphasised that the award did not in one single instance reduce wages or lower conditions. On the contrary, the employees had been given substantial increases of Is to Is 6d a day, besides, in many respects, improved working conditions. It was true that the full marginal differences between the base rates and the higher-paid men had not been maintained, as in the circumstances it was found impossible to do so.

He warned the engine-drivers that their contemplated action was quite illegal, notwithstanding the fact that 14 days’ notice had been given, and said that the notices should be withdrawn and proper constitutional measures relied upon.