COAL TRADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23136, 11 March 1937, Page 10

COAL TRADE

SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE A COMPLETE AGREEMENT INCREASES FOR LOWER-PAID MEN (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND. Mar. 10. A complete agreement was reached to-day between the members of, the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners’ Association and the New Zealand Miners’ Federation, who agreed upon a 5 per cent, increase in all day wages rates, plus alterations in certain working conditions and in the machinery clauses in the previous agreement. _ These terms apply to all mines in New Zealand, Including the State mines. The Minister of Mines (Mr P. C. Webb) said the outcome of the conference made him a pleased and happy man. A previous conference in Wellington last month had been without avail, and it was at his instance that the two parties came to Auckland last week to meet him here. He had warned them that, if a satisfactory conclusion was not reached, it might be necessary to make arrangements for coal to be imported. At the close of the conference Mr C. C. Davis, of Christchurch, told the Minister what had happened, and said that as a result all the lower-paid workers in the mines would receive increases in pay. The owners expected the utmost cooperation from the miners, and were pleased to have the assurance of the men’s representatives that it would be given and that friction, annoyance and irritation tactics would be obviated. He was afraid it was inevitable in many instances that the concessions granted would-mean a rise in the price of coal. Mr A. M'Lagan, national secretary of the New Zealand Miners’ Federation, said he felt sure that many of the minor forms of irritation and disputes would be removed from the industry. The men would do their part. He congratulated Mr Webb on bringing the parties together and facilitating an agreement between them. The Minister said that, if the spirit exhibited at the conference could be reproduced in every other industry in the country, there would be better-planned organisation and better methods of production and distribution. The coal mining industry should now be placed on a firmer basis, and if the large dairy factories kept their bins full in winter time it would materially help the mines to maintain their output through the year and bring contentment among those employed in the coal mining industry. It was the duty of the men, Mr Webb said, to co-operate with the owners in every practical and sensible way. “ The Government stands 100 per cent, against any faction which acts against the interests of the whole community. The success of this conference will mean much good to New Zealand.” The Minister added that had no agreement been reached and had there been a prospect of the industry being dislocated the Government would not have hesitated to get coal elsewhere.