THE LABOR QUESTION

Oamaru Mail, Volume XX, Issue 6439, 25 December 1895, Page 3

THE LABOR QUESTION

(Br Etacratcr Tmz,«<mm.?k—CopTßJtoor.l f?B» CT«TS© PfcSSrt ASaOCtATIOJf.) Raceivsd December St. »S 11.30 a.ro. Svosey. December SI. As Chairman of the Conference rewntly held »8 Newcastle, the Mayor of Newcastle has recetved a fetter signed f>y the managements of the Australian Agricultural. Wallsend,, and Newcastle Companies* three of the largest proprietaries in the district* who withheld from the Conference. The tetter state* that experience has proved that it is impossible to davisa * workable plan for maintaining a standard setting price of coal, the partie* thereto refusing to be bound. Besides* in some cases there are insurmountable legal obstacles in the way. Moreover, under existing circumstances, trade will not bear a rise in coal. It mentions that nothing was more certain thaa that foreign trade would be retained and the tow prices which had rated for the Just two- years would remain. They could see no prospect whatever of a return withi safety to. even 9s per too. For these seasons* they declined to join the new combination. They, however, were willing to engage if all their competitors would undertake to. make eight shillings less 2$ per cent., the stai.d;*rd price from January next, and also declare alt ootstand«ag"fcootracts at a less price, with the times for which; they have to. ran- The: three companies named wilt limit their trade to a like proportion as they have had daring 189* and 1896>» thus effectually safeguarding other companies from being undersold by the three named. They give this guarantee on the distinct understand* i intf that the engagement will be ended immediately they have reason to believe that competitors are selling or trying to sett below the fixed price.