COAL OWNERS AND MINERS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16507, 7 August 1919, Page 3

COAL OWNERS AND MINERS.

AN INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE., Per Press Association. AA’ELLINGTOI, August 6. AVhon tlic Mining Couterence resumed at 3 p.iu. Mr. Alison said that | during the adjournment the federation | proposals had been considered. The I coal mine owners were unanimously of 'j opinion that there was no justification •i for the appointment of a Koval Com- ; mission in view of the comprehensive ! report made by the Hoard of 'trade, i Vvmlo strongly holding tiio opinion | that no further inquiry was called for, j it such investigation should be made ■ into matters connected with the indusI try, including the federation’s demands I and tlie eltoet which the granting of ! these demands would have upon the ■ industry, including the reduction of ■ output, the increased eost of producI tion, and tiie eiiect tipou the community generally, the association would : bo prepared to appoint an assessor oxassessors if requested by the Govem- : meat to do so. If investigations under the economic conditions were decide upon an adjournment of the conference would be necessary until tlie report was received. Failing that, if the federation were prepared definitely , to withdraw the six principal claims for the period for which any agreement might bo made the employers were prepared to discuss the other clauses in the demands. The coal mine owners, therefore, submitted those proposals for consideration by tlie federation:— (1) That, in view of the recent exhaustive report of the Board of Trade, the Coal Owners’ Association is of opinion that there is no necessity for tiio appointment of a Royal Commission ns suggested by the Miners’ Federation. 1 (2) If, however, the Government decides to institute further investigation and the whole Of the federation’s demands are also inquired into and reported upon, if it is agreed that, pending tlie report, tiio existing industrial agreements and awards should remain in force, the association will be prepared to appoint an assessor or assessors to represent it. (3) Should the above proposals be agreed to it will be necessary to adjourn tiio conference until the 'report is received, as that report may involve such' changes as will have an important bearing on the rates of pay and working conditions in tlie mines. If, however, an investigation as suggested above is decided upon the employers are prepared to discuss the, remaining federation demands, if tiio six principal demands to which exception is taken by the coal mine owners are definitely and finally withdrawn until the expiration of the term of any agreement which may he entered into. Mr. O’Rourke said the miners’ repre- i sentatives had no power to withdraw wholly and solely the demands they suggested. Apparently the coal own- I ers wore endeavouring for some reasoi to bring about a crisis. Air. Bishop (State Mines Depart incut) asked what exactly was moan by tlie withdrawal of the demands a referred to by Air. O’Rourke. Tlie; wore to ho withdrawn for the time bo ing. He wished to know exactly tin moaning of-the term “for the, time be ing.” These demands were such a: could not bo conceded, and it woulc not be possible to go on with the discussion of the other demands until they knew it was certain that those de mands, which tiio coal mine owners anc State Department could not concede would not be raised again. Air. O’Rourke said the delegates line no power to withdraw anything. The proposals had been put in the hands ol tlie delegates by the unions, and they were mandatory. What lie had proposed on behalf of his colleagues was that these should bo loft in abeyance for tlie time being. Tlie remaining clauses could be taken, and then the delegates could go back to the rank and file and say: “Those are the answers of the mine owners to your proposals.” Mr. Bishop asked whether the delegates agreed to hold over these clauses pending tlie report of the commission. Air. O’Rourke: Oil, no! Air. Roberts said it would be six to nine months before the commission could report, and that- would bo too long for the miners to wait for redress seeing it was not possible for the miners’ representatives to obtain tlie discussion of the principal demands in the agreement. The representatives of tlie miners had, in order that the conference should not be ..abortive, asked that tiio owners discuss as many of the proposals as possible outside those to which special exception had been taken. Air. Alison said that in the first demands of the federation there had boon six which the coal mine owners decided would bo impossible. The great efleet of granting them would be that- every user of coal iu tlie country would ho penalised lus per ton. Tlie owners insisted on the withdrawal of those impossible clauses. If this were done the owners could proceed to discuss the rest of the demands and eudeayour to come to an agreement. ' Sir George Cliiford made a sugges.tjon that the term “royal commission” should not be insisted on in the miners’ proposal. He suggested tiio word should bo “investigation.” Mf- Roberts, while thanking Sir Goo. Linford tor lus advice, said the miners could not accept an inquiry other than a Royal Commission. Air T. S. Weston made a proposal, on which lie had not consulted any of his colleagues, which was that a committee of three members on each side should lie set up to discuss tho possibility of going on with tho consideration oi the demands other tlntn those withdrawn for tlie timo being. Air. I'layell supported Air. Weston’s proposal. The opposing representatives iad been discussing tiiis business for ionic flays without getting much nearir settlement, and ho feared that if iomctlung such as Air, Weston suo--jcstocl were not done there was a danger tliat the parties might not got together. llio eonlerenco adjourned for ten iiinufccs to consider tho proposal On resuming, Air, Roberts said tiie mners- representatives agreed to tho n-oposal, and that tho members to represent. them on tiie committee be dessrs. Arbuckie, O’Rourke and himAir Bishop asked to bo an extra iicmber oi tlie committee as represontng tlie Government and the State coal ames. Hus was agreed to ™hi. G r go i Glill °, rdsiiid iie wou! <j to nable to act as chairman for the reminder of the conference, but would emulate Air, AV. Reese to be his cpnty m the chair. This proposal was accepted -by both aitics. Sir George Clifiord’s services o as chairman and lus npartiality and tact were eulogised bv otii sides. Tiie conference adjourned until toIOITOW.