COAL-MINERS' TROUBLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14280, 31 July 1908, Page 2

COAL-MINERS' TROUBLE

i CONFERENCE AT JIILTOX. A IIAKMONipUS MEETING. A confercnnc between the employees and officials oE the Bruce Coal-mining Company was commenced in Stewart's Hotel, Milton, yesterday morning. Mr A. Weston (district president oE the Coal-miners' Union) was in the chair, ami there were present: Messrs .T. Wilson (general manager of the Bruce collieries), Robertson (Milton agent) and J. Carruthcrs (mine manager), A. ! Forbes (district secretary), P. lliley (local secretary), and Barclay (district- president). It was resolved, at. t.lic request ot the , employers, that the proceedings of the con- ] fercnce be in camera. 1 Mr Weston, speaking on behalf of the men, said it was hoped that the conference < would tend to remove much discontent from , amongst the employees, who at the present time were working only under an old agreement, and wiio, cither by tho court o"r by the present confercncc, hoped to establish a firm and workmanlike basis for their future operations. He had the assurance of the men that they would bo loyal to the Arbitration Court, and they were very pleased to see that the ioitrt had arranged ' to hear the dispute. He hoped all per- - sonalities would bo expunged from tho pre- ' sent proceedings, and thati ait amicable , settlement would result. The men had grievances, and discontent was rife Mr Carruthcrs asked, through the ohair- i man, what were the actual grievances of , tho men. Mr Riley proceeded to state that the old - company had worked under an agreement i which had boon b&sod on an award of (;he \ A. l bitration Court, and even imdor these 1 conditions the men had not been satisfied. ' Pile now company did not hold as strictly i to the agreement, and in consequence the i discontent among tJm men ted been aeeon- 1 tuated. The company was seeking an award, but its reference was not at all satisfactory to the men. During the discussion that followed, Mr Carruuiers stated that.that was the first occasion on whioli bo had heard that the local men had grievances, and that they were discontented. He spoke very strongly in reference to the messages that hud appoured in tins newspapers containing allega- > tions that a strike was iunninonL Finally it was agreed to proceed with the consideration of tho references advanced by both sides. Tho reference at present before the Court of Arbitration to filed 1 by Ihe employers who, as stated, are desirous of i obtaining an award. The employers' douwnds are as follow: — Headings Gft wide to 7ft wide to be paid tor at the rate of Gs per yard; headings Sft to 9ft, 4s per yard. Orie shilling extra for each additional shift in addition to tonnage rates Stentons Gft to 7ft wide to be paid at the rate of 3s per yard in addition to tonnage rates. Levels from Oft to 7ft wide, tn M ? Pillars to bo paid at the rate of -a 3d perton for harped coal; headings to be paid for at the rate'of 2s 6d per lo® c, r - t f arped coa ' ; 1)Cl1^9 stentons, ditto, ohift wages. 10s, The men ask tint they be paid for all coal by weight; that bords 14ft wide and Bft high b 9 paid -for at 3s per ton; if the bol'd is gmng to be narrow, levels rates to be paid; headings 7ft to Bft wide, 3s per tan, with a yardage rate of 6s per yard for one shift; crcssout headings to be paid for at the same rato as headings: stentons to be paid for at Is per ton, with a. yardage rate of js for one shift; dips to be contracted for. tieadmg coal, if in 4ft narrows, 2s 9d per ton, and if less than 4ft 3s per ton; piilais to be paid for ftt 2s 9d per ton; deficient places to be at shift wages rates; shift wages to "0 lis per" shift; wet places to be paid tar at• shirt wages, . Briefly, while the employees ask for an increase of 3d on the present rates (2s 9d) the owners demand a decrease of 3d. The clause was discussed by the conference, but as it was perfectly evident that neither side would give way, it was resolved that all the clauses relating to piece rates bo left in .ibevance. This was done.' _ Tho Dalloting clauses, sul/jcot to alterations and adjustments, were agreed to. The men asked for an increase in the percentage of workmen to ballot for spocial places— namely, 75 por cent., —the employers' reference stipulates 25 per cent. The demands made by the men respecting tho measurements of headings were granted by tho employers, 'but no prices were fixed. It was agreed that dips be exempted from ballots, fl-nd that minors tender for driving same, In regard to wet placos, it agreed that should the management, protect tho men from getting wet by erecting sheets of iron over their places, gueh places will not be considered wet places. An extra clause i 3 to be added providing for pay on Saturdays. _ When the conference adjourned last evening there were only a few unimportant clauses to be considered. Of, the' remainder, practically all dealing with the general conditions under whioh the men labour had . been agreed to, many with slight amendments. All, however, that referred to the payment of the men, the question of weighing, and that of trucking had been held over; tfiere was a wide margin in the demands of eaoh party, ■ awl as neither was prepared fo concede sufficient to effect an immediate settlement it was thought advisable to leave the questions involved in abeyance. These questions may be brought up again at the conclusion of the conference, but the probabilities are that they will bo left to the Arbitration Court for settlement. The tone of the conference was most cheerful and conciliatory, masters and men meeting, apparently, in tho best of tempers. There is little doubt that all minor points will bo settled by the conference, and that the parties will confidently leave the bigger questions to tho Arbitration Court. Tho TaraAu coal-miners. and their employers will confer at Eaitangata to-night. ■