STATE COAL MINERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18447, 7 January 1922, Page 11

STATE COAL MINERS

TERMS OF RESUMPTION. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. l (Pm United Pbebs Association.) WELLINGTON, January 6. It was announced in a telegram from Greyraquth ' yesterday that the State coal miners who have been idle for about a month resumed work under the conditions of the old agreement. Questioned to-day, the Minister of Mines (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) said that when the miners intimated last month their willingness to go back to work an official of the department was sent to Greymouth to draw up a new agreement baaed upon the terms of the award recently made by Mr Justice Frazer us affecting the West Coast mines. A settlement obuld not be arrived at on several points, and on the 20th ult. representatives of the union interviewed the Minister and requested that the Undor-Hecretary (Mr Kimbeli) should proceed to the Coast and endeavour to settle the points in dispute. It was made dear to the deputation that the new, agreement would have to be based upon the recent award of tho Arbitration Court. After discussing the matter fully the president, on behalf of tlio union, agreed to the differences between the department and tho union being settled by the Unddr-Sccretnry and himself, and if they could not agree that tho union would • take tho necessary steps under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act to obtain a settlement under it. In each case the wages payable would bo ae laid down under such statement, and would apply retrospectively as from tho date the mirto was reopened, which was to be the 4th inst. It would thus bo seen, said the Minister, that the men have not resumed under the old agreement., hut under the terms of an agreement still to bo decided, and on tho basis of tho recent award of the Arbitration Court. This proposition was made by representatives of tile union themselves, in order that the mine might be reopened and operations resumed.