THE MINING CONFERENCE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 1872, 13 February 1920, Page 5

THE MINING CONFERENCE.

COMMITTEES SET UP. FURTHER DELEGATES ARRIVING PrfSS Association. WELLINGTON, February 13. The coal conference yesterday itfternoon met under the Rt. Hon. \V. 1". Massey's chairmanship. Committees were set up to deal with the different aspects of the questions at issue, ami the conference then adjourned till to-day. It is understood that when the conference met the coal owners broached the question of the contract system, desiring to clear the ground as soon as possible by a discussion, but the miners are strongly opposed to contracts, preferring the wages system. It is believed that further representatives of both sides may be present to-day. GO-SLOW FUND. MINERS REFUSE TO CONTRIBUTE 7V«w Association. AUCKLAND, February 13. It is stated that some of the coalminers in the Auckland district have been refusing for some time pastto place wages earned in excess of 15/pcr day into a common fund in connection with tiic go-slow policy. MINERS' WAGES. CHALLENGE BY MINE SECRETARY. WELLINGTON, February 13. Air J. Arbuckle, secretary of the Miners' Federation, in reply to the Welfare League, states that he is prepared to donate £5 to the Wellington Hospital, conditional on the league writer doing the same, if Ihe statement is incorrect that the wages earned are just the same to-day as before the conference took place regarding rates. He say that in a section of the Denniston Mine that, out of 1(> men on coal, 30 received 1/11 per ton, with an added bonus of 25 per cent., not 35 per cent. He gives an instance of earnings as follow:—Two men produced 165 tons in 11 days, and after deductions for explosives, light, etc., had £3 6/9 per week. In other cases men working in what was contended to be deiicient places, earned £1 8/11 and t'2 13/5 per week respectively.