NORTHERN COAL DISPUTE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3773, 6 July 1926, Page 24

NORTHERN COAL DISPUTE.

A SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE AGREEMENT ON ALL QUESTIONS. AUCKLAND, June 30. The conference between the North Island coal mine owners and the union representatives was concluded to-day at Huntly with an agreement on all the questions in dispute. The new igreement was approved bv both parties, the mSn’s delegates making their consent, however, subject to ratification by the unions. The mines affected by tht agreement are those of Glen Afton, Pukemiro, Waipa, and Taupiri. With respect to the remaining mines—Hikurangi and Wilson’s collieries —certain clauses of lc al application were deferred for consideration ii Auckland tomorrow. In accordance with the undertakings given by the union delegates yesterday, the men will work II dayi per fortnight, thus continuing the previous practice • of working on Saturday mornings. Piece rates -of pay remain unaltered, but wage rates have been increased in some instances to bring them to the level of the rates existing in the West Coast collieries. No increases have been granted to boys under 17 years of age, and of the total adult wages about 50 per cent, remain unaltered. The unio s having cancelled their egistration under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, preference to unionists was withheld until such time as they egi ter themselves under tlie Incorporated Societies Act, as they have agreed .to do, or alternatively until they agree to register the agreement arrived at, as provided by the Labour Disputes Investigation Act. The duration of the agreement is for a period of two years from the date of its ratification. It will come into force at the commencement of the first day a fortnight after ratification. The general claus , of the agreement, occupying about two-thirds of the whole, are applicable to Hikurang l and Wilson’s collieries in addition to those of the Waikato.