COAL MINING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16503, 2 August 1919, Page 3

COAL MINING.

CONFERENCE OF OWNERS AND

NO AGREEMENT PROBABLE, Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, August 1. At the Coal Miners' Conference, when proceedings commenced tills afternoon, Mr. Allison stated that before tho question of tiio federation’s demands was considered the mine owners had decided lo raise the question as to why fresh demands were now being made, seeing that the existing agreements did not expire until six months after the termination of the war; Hint they had, in fact, about another six months yet to run. Mr. O’Rourko, president of the federa lion, in reply, said it was only nceessary for him to slate that, as far as tiie rank and file of tho Miners’ Federation was concerned, they considered that agreement had expired six months after the armistice. Mr. AlJison then read tho result of the previous conference between the owners and the federation, and argued that it was evident that the term of.tho existing agreements had not expired, and the mine owners submitted that tho • federation must agree thflt the agreements must lie observed for the period for which they were made. At the Coal Miners’ Conference, after Mr. Allison's statement, discussion was continued for some time on tho meaning of the phrase “termination of • (ho war,” tho owners contending that it meant when tho peace terms wero accepted by Germany, and the minors’ representatives that hostilities actually terminated with tiie signing of tho armistice.

The chairman (Sir George Clifford) said tho difficulty was purely a legal one, and it would be a fair compromise to refer it to tho Solicitor-General. Mr. Roberts said the federation would not agree to taking any legal opinion. If it was intended that tho agreement should exist until six months after the declaration of the peace, why didn’t it so state it?

The chairman said tho question would have to bo considered later, and then called on the federation to submit its proposals. Mr. O’Rourke stated that the crux of the situation lay in the abolition of the contract system and the reduction of hours. They would he tho two knotty problems which would have to be surmounted. Tho reason why New Zealand found itself in such a had position regarding coal w.is because of the bad nature of the conditions of employment at the mines. The miners wanted good conditions both outside and inside the mines, but would not concern themselves about tho outside until they saw what steps the Government intended to take. They must improve tho conditions for the men who went down into the bowels of the earth to hew coal. They were entitled to special consideration. The demand for £1 a day was in consonance with the Government Statistician’s report that that sum was now only equal to 12s per day. Tho rank and file had almost unanimously decided against the contract or speeding-up system, because serious accidents were attributable to it. In reply, Mr-. Allison 3 made a lengthy statement denying that tire conditions in tho mines were bad and quoting the board’s report in support. If the coal owners agreed to the abolition of the contract system they would agree to anything. ‘ 'Wore they to understand that under tho wage system the miners were not going to work ns hard as before? He concluded with the following; “Most careful and serious consideration has been given to the whole position, and the Coal Owners’ Association, realising its duty to its loaders and to the State generally, has defmite- , I.’ decided that whatever have to be the consequences the principal demands cannot be acceded to or even discussed. The demands particularly referred to are the abolition of tho contract system, the reduction of hours of work, coal hewing only on the day shift, one shift in 24 hours, payment for holidays, and payment for time lost. The employers are not prepared to proceed further with the conference unless-the above-mentioned demands arc eliminated from the federation’s claims. The employers regret being compelled to adopt this attitude, hut knowing, as they do, the serious, far-reaching, and disastrous effect which the granting of these demands would have upon the country, they feel it is clearly their duty to adopt the course indicated. Mr. Arbucklc asked it Mr. Allison could name any mine in which tho daily average wage was as high as £1 os to £1 10s. The average was only 24s 7d, and that was per working day. The miners of New Zealand liad produced, tho world’s record output, and they received the handsome wage of £3 15s nor week. Tho cost of hewing coal was about 3s 2d per ton. If the Minister produced only half that amount under the wage system the cost would be increased only 3s 2il per ton. Mr. Roberts said lie was at a hjss to know how .Mr. Allison arrived at his marvellous figures. What was_ being asked now was reasonable and fair. Mr. Tosland said the serious shortage of coal was duo to the shortage of miners, and more men would leave the industry unless tho conditions were improved. ' Mr. O’Brien said they asked the public to take into consideration that out of £3 IDs per ton they were paying for coal tho minor received 2s 6d for bowing it, and tho trucker got a penny nor ton for trucking it a chain. He was sure.-if a minimum wage was substituted the effect would bo beneficial. A reduction of hours was necessary on account of tho unnaturalness of the, occupation. . Mr. Allison said the miners received a great deal more than 2s 6d per ton' for* getting the coal. The mine owners had no desire to pay less than a fair wage to the minors. The conditions in'. New Zealand mines were exceptionally good. There was absolutely no comparison between Groat Britain, where seams were small, and New Zealand, with great seams in the mines hero. Tho Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald remarked on tho serious position in New Zealand, and said the industries must suffer if the concessions were given. Tho meeting sdjourned till to-mor-row.

TO-DAY’S PROCEEDINGS. WELLINGTON, August 2. The mining conference resumed today. Mr. Alison said the owners had considered with the utmost care-' tho demands of the Federation and also the serious, even solemn, warning given by tho Minister of Mines yesterday, and w.ero convinced it jvas inrpjossiblo to

grant them under tho present condi- ! tions of tiie Dominion. The owners’ ’ estimate of the cost to the consumer j was unshaken. “Wo must,” he said, 1 “adhere to our decision that w© cannot j oven discuss tho principal demands.” i Tho suggestion of tho Minister of-j Mines-that there should he a Board of Control for State mines should receive most careful consideration and the ; owners were willing to adjourn the con- j ference to jjive time to all parties to ' come to a conclusion as to its advisability. _ | The conference is proceeding. | Later. The payment of miners for the one j day peace holiday was discussed. - i ' Mr. Arbucklo said some mines paid ] two days and others one day, which was.j niggardly. Others had not even lion- j cured the occasion by giving one day’s pay. He had received a telegram that, work had stopped at Denniston as a protest. Blackball and Kiripaka had also sent him messages inquiring why payment was not made. Mr. Flavoll (Westport Coal Com- j pany) said it had been agreed to pay * one day; and if any men had not recoivc'cTftieir pay it must have been due ; to a Saturday being pay day was a holiday, but tho owners wero paying for Monday, as a, gift not as a right. Mr. Watson (Blackball) and Mi-. Holgato (Kiripaka) said the misunderstanding was unfortunate. The pay would be included in the next pay. Mi-. Arbuckle said pay for one day was not satisfactory. Mr. ’O’Brien: said one mine had been stopped owing to the owner’s action. Such misunderstandings led to serious trouble. Often a strike was the only method of rectifying such misundery: standings. . : , The discussion was dropped on the) understanding that secretaries should ! be notified that all men were to: bo I paid. \

ME. HOLLAND TALKS.

WELLINGTON, August 1, Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., takes es> coption to the statement by the act-ing-chairman of the Board of Trade (Mr. W. G. M'Donald) in the course of his reply to the Woolston Borough Council to the effect that he (Mr. Holland) had “suggested that other industries of the country should be taxed to provide funds” to purchase private-; ly owned coal mines, as being incorrect. Ho says: “Immediately following the deputation which conveyed to Sir- James Alien the unanimous decisions of .the two labour conferences in condemnation of the board’s scheme, the actingchairman furnished the press _ with; criticism of the conference’s attitude,' and to this criticism I replied in the| Evening Post of July 18. Nowhere in' my speech to the Minister, nor yet ini my reply to the acting-chairman., of. tho hoard, can there he fouhd'any suggestion that other industries’ of 'the; country should he taxed to provide funds. ‘ On the contrary, after advocating that the State should take over; the mines that are worth while, and that the industry should be controlled hy the board, on which the, miners would he adequately represented, I pointed out that the need to hotaow money for the purchase of the mines before the fact that New Zealand had, at the end of the last financial year, a surplus of £15,000,000. I furnished figures showing that probably not more than £1,000,09(1 would, be needed to purchase such mines* asj have a reasonable length of life, and) concluded it would surely he absurd toi talk about, the need to borrow money] at high rates of interest with 15 times] the amount required in the Govern-! ment coffers/ I also furnished figures in connection with the State mines showing how profitable an investment State coal mining had proved,; despite the charges which had been loaded ‘up’ against the State mines in favour of the Railway Department, heavy interest charges, and other handicaps. How Mr. M ‘Donald found it possible to read into my statement the suggestion that other industries of tho country should ho taxed to provide funds is for him to explain.”