THE COAL LUMPERS' DISPUTE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13945, 3 July 1907, Page 5

THE COAL LUMPERS' DISPUTE.

A CONFERENCE

THE MEN'S PROPOSALS.

Preis Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, SYDNEY, July 2. (Received July 2, at 10.12 p.m.)

When the coal lumpers' conference was resumed to-day it was decided to conduct tho proceedings with open doors. The coal lumpers submitted the following proposalsßates of pay for day work, Is 6d an hour; overtime (excepting Saturday), 2s 3d an hour; Saturdays, 2s; afternoon to midnight, 3s. Abolition, of Sunday work is proposed, and payment for tho time the men are kept waiting. The men also propose that two men shall not carry more than seven yards, and they ask for recognition of the Coal Lumpers' Union.

/After a lengthy discussion, the lumpers' delegates undertook to protect the free labourers from molestation provided they were engaged in certain recognised channels. The steam collier-owners and stevedores' delegates agreed to raise no objection to free labourers joining and foremen being members of the union. Discussing the rates of pay, the union delegates suggested letting the arbitration award go and fixing up an agreement independently of it. The employers' representatives stated that'the rates demanded were equal to a AO per cent, increase on tho present rates, pud asked for time to consult other members of the association. The conference then adjourned until to-morrow.