THE COAL TROUBLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12404, 23 August 1918, Page 6

THE COAL TROUBLE.

SPECIAL CABINET MEETING. MINISTERS RETICENT. ■ !?*s Pams Association,] WELLINGTON, August 23. The Cabinet held a special meeting to-day to consider the mining trouble. It adopted a certain proposal, which Ministers are not disposed to announce until it has been submitted to the mineowners. Doubtless this is to bare tho whole dispute referred to an impartial tribunal, with power to make an award. Tho miners' representatives will immediately place the Government’s proposal before the men. THE PRESENT POSITION. A CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS. [Per Press Association.] WESTPORT, August 23. ’ A conference is being held hero today between, mine managers and all deputies from Stockton and a deputy .1 epresentative from all district mines. Tho deliberations are being kept secret. -Many colliers who have come into fowu .appear quite indifferent *o matters. A combined meeting of colliers resident at Millerton and Granity yesterday decided, by 26S votes to 13, not to resume work. ■ It is difficult to find .out the exact nature of the ballot put to the men. If something is not done oven at Westport, "Westport will experience a coal shortage before long. There is practically no storage, and supplies are very limited. It is understood that Air Semple sent a pica to tho minors to continue working in the meantime until some arrangement had been come to. In Wellington it is understood there is to be a conference of all deputies to-day. in connection with tho Stockton dispute to decide upon what further course to take. This is outside tho matter of tire conference now' reported as sitting. Developments t are anxiously awaited by the tradespeople. THE STATE MINE. [Pm Prms Association.] , GREYMOUTH, August 2S. The miners at Roa and Blackball are still out. Tho State mine is working as usual. A‘meeting will bo held tonight; _ but it is understood that tho mon will not com© out unless instructed by tho Federation. BLACKBALL MINERS. Telegraphic information received at the head office of the Blackball Coal Company in Christchurch this morning was to the effect that the men employed. at, tho Blackball mine are still