THE COAL MINERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3353, 19 June 1918, Page 24

THE COAL MINERS.

QUESTION OF INCREASED WAGES. WELLINGTON, June 15. Tho published statement that there is _to be a conference of coal mine owners with the representatives of the Miners' Unions is not correct. No such conference has been arranged. The Miners' .Federation approached the owners recently asking for a conference on the question of increases in wages, but this conference was refused._ The union representatives have been in touch with the Minister of Mines (Mr W. D. S. MacDonald) for some little time. The Minister has now asked the owners to meet him, and that meeting will take place this week. It may be that the Minister intends to ask the owners to meet the men, and that there will be a conference later. It is recognised that the Government practically has power to compel a conference, and, this being so, the owners may not care to _ hold out against 'the Government; but if any increases in wages have to be given as the result of the conference, the companies will have to ritise the already very high price of coal. This they are for many reasons most timvilliing to do; but in the present state •' of tilings, when coal is so very scarce, the public will have to pay whatever price may be fixed. If the companies are forced to give way on the wag a 3 demands of the men they will pay the extra rates, put up the price of coal, and lay on the Government the whole blame for this addition to the cost of living. The unions are demanding an increase in wages rates of 20 per cent.