COAL TRADE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13657, 28 July 1908, Page 5

COAL TRADE.

CONFERENCE AT DUNEDIN.

RATHER STRAINED RELATIONS.

Per Presa Association.

DUNEDIN, July 27. Representatives of the Green Island collieries and the coal-miners commenced a conference this afternoon.

The mine-owners were represented by Messrs P. Barclay, A. Bremner, Brugh, G. arid W. Christie, S. Freeman, B. Hill and R. Green. The miners, representatives were Messrs A. Weston (District President), A. Forbes (District Recre-. tiuy) ,A. Love, W. Hollows, A. 0. Smith. Mr Hally (of the labour Department) presided. The principal demands of the men aro the fixing of tonnage rates shift wages, improvement of conditions, weighing of coal wet. and deficient places. I.b was decided to take the reference filed by the Union with the Arbitration Court and consider the clauses seriatim. With the exception of- ono or two clauses it appeared likely that. ;i .settlement! would bs arrived at, but present indications do not. point to an amicable settlement on the whole reference. The principal point in dispute rotates to pieea rates. The miners demand an increase of 4*l per ton in the hewing rates on till classes of coal, but the owners declare that they wil not give; moro than an increase of 2d per ton. On three occasions a deadlock was reached, both sidetf refusing to give way in any particular, but after some lengthy discussions it. was agreed to proceed as if the owners had agreed to give an increase of 4d. This was done so that' the owners might sea what concessions the men were prepared to make in their demands provided, tlm employers would give way on the main point. It was also agreed that should the conference prove, abort ivM this arrangement would not be prejudicial U> either side.

Five clauses subsequently considered— (l).Number of boxes of round coal to bo filled per day by each miuor.—This wa.s left in abeyance. (2) Width of bords—No decision Was arrived at. in this case, the matter being referred to the union which meets to-morrow night. (3) Pillars—This matter is the same as in old award. (4) Weighing coal—This was left' in al>eyanee. (5) Narrow places—Practically the same as in the old award. The conference sat for eight, hours mid will be resumed to-morrow at 1.30. So far as can Ik 1 gathered neither side anticipates an amicable settlement in which event, a strike will probably result-