THE COAL COMMISSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20867, 6 November 1929, Page 9

THE COAL COMMISSION

EVIDENCE OF v MR WILLIS

CONTRACT SYSTEM FAVOURED,

(United Press Association.) (By . Electric Telegraph ‘ Copyright.i

SYDNEY, November 5.

Giving evidence before the Coal Commission, Mr Albert Willis, M.L.C., formerly general secretary of the Coal Miners’ Federation, expressed the opinion that the Collective Contract System would be most advantageous for the peaceable working of the mines. He said he would like to see it applied to groups of mines. There should be agreement between the organisation supplying labour and the organisation representing capital, and the Government should regulate the rates. A body of experts would require to have access to all the data in order to arrive at a fair price for coal. This would mean closing down a number of mines, which were merely dead weight to the industry. Amalgamation should be'compulsory. Witness regarded compulsory arbitration for the settlement of the dispute as one-sided. The court had the right to inquire into the workers’ means and private affairs, but it did not inquire into how many racehorses the owners" should possess.