THE COAL DISPUTE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14037, 21 April 1920, Page 3

THE COAL DISPUTE.

STATEMENT BY THE PRBFE PEB PRWW Absocwtio!*. WELLINGTON. April 20. It is understood that- the disagreement between the Federation of Coalminers and the companies was in to the interpretation of one ot the clauses of the agreement, which had to do with the payment of a minimum waco of 12s per dav to men employed in the faces of the mine where it was not possible for them to make a living. wage at the contract" rates of pay. . Owini; to the difficulty of mining coal m those places, the question arose whether this tninimnm of 12s should mm an increase of 50 per cent, or of 60 cent. . point on which the clause-was not definite. Mr Massey stated that he had been advised that the companies had agreed to pay at the 60 per cent. rate. and were now doing so. It J*"™"? exactly what the cause of the is. Tt has never been stated that this is tlie only cause ofthe present disagreement., but if it- should prove to be so, thenthematterseemfi to have been settled to the satisfaction of the onions.