N.Z. COAL MINERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16884, 4 August 1919, Page 4

N.Z. COAL MINERS.

■' /-># -•—- wmi own jJL r %jrEX'S DEMANDS. 7&, es9 -Association). 'WELLINGTON, Aug 2.. The coal mining conference .iu» icsumed to-day on the demands Jrudc In the Muieis' Fcdciation upon Ihi CoaTmme Owners' Association. - •

The proposals include* the.abolition ot the contract system that minus should be paid £1 dailj, tiuckeis, Jut&e duveis and men in chaige of lope load 17s 6d, that the houis ol wc;k should be seven Lank to bank imniedi<ue'-(, .ind on Janiiaiy 1, ]921, thcjioir*- should bo 1 educed to six bank to b.in] pay to bo weekly evciy Fnda-v alteinoon; e\eij Saturday to bo an idle d«n net coal to be hewed othei than on day shiit, hours of woilc in wot placed tu be bank to banlc, no trucking to bfdono by mineis; no moie than one shift io be done an twenty-four liouis, the company to piovide free light, too's and house coal to all woikpis, all workei<* shall be gianted a fortnight's holidaj ■on full pay each year, the samo to be from December 23 to JaiumV 5 inclusive, Easter hohdajs-io be front Good Fridav to Easter Tuesday ino'nsivo, other holidays to be May Day -md Labour Day. The employe! s aie leprcer- ed uv ! twerity-fonr delegate*.., -the mineis bv [nine Sir Geoige Cliffoid wms cliosen as chairman.

THE OWNERS' POSITION STATED Mr Alison said that the owneis had consideied with the utmost caie the demands oi tluPFedeicition, and also tho serious, even solemn, warning given yesterda-y to the Minister ot Mines. '.'TjVe aie cominced," he said, 'that the demands are impossible to be gi anted under the present conditions ot trie Dominion. Our' estimate' of the additional cost to the 'consumer is not shaken. No figures, have been adduced to rebut these calculations. We must adhere to our decisioh that we cannot even discuss the principal demands as enumerated yesterday at this crisis in our national life. ' The Minister of Mines rejected on behalf of the State mines the abolition of the contract system and the reduction of hours as impracticable in view of the resulting increase of the cost of coal, and had suggested the institution of a Board of Control for the State mines, on "which representatives of the employees should, have a voice. • This was a very new' proposition, which the owners should wish' to be more definitely defined. It would be neecssary for the directors !of. eaeh company to consider how; such an innovation would accord with its articles of association, and consult the shareholders thereon. We feel," said Mr Alison, "however, that the- 1 suggestion should receive most careful _ consideration, and are willing to adjourn' this conference to give -time to all parr ties to come to. a conclusion as to its advisability." • .•'.".. Mr Bishop, s aetiug-Under-Secretary of Mines, said that as far as living conditions were concerned, he could say that the State was prepared to make Kunanga or any other, new mining township a model township so far as it was able.to do so. .•■V".f i -"'' J -. \'<-\'":-.\

\ DEADLOCK REACHED. •' • ''-• When" the Miners Conference' adjourned until Monday a .deadlock had been reached. stated denitelv that the owners ■ ; wdiild?'iiot discuss'the abolition' of the contract system, no matter what' figures or matters the Federation pr&duced. . Ai, In reply to a ; question'is td%lietlier the owners Would be'prepared to make counter proposals, Mr Alison said that the owners would be prepared to discuss the other clauses of the proposed new" agreement. Mr Arbuckle. . (secretary...., of..- the Miners'- Federation) said that'the delegates had absolutely no power to withdraw the five points referred to. They must go back to tjhe rank and file unless these were discussed. Refusal to discuss them would" be a red flag to the rank and file. If the owners had no other offer to make, then the fight was on.

It is nnderstqod that the Federation will make a statement on Monday refuting that made by the mine owners.