THE COAL CRISIS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12410, 30 August 1918, Page 6

THE COAL CRISIS.

STATEMENT BY MR SEMPLE. PROSPECTS OF SETTLEMENT I Per Prkss Association.] W KSTPORT, Augusct 30. Mr K. Semple called at the ” Times” office Iliis rooming and made the following statement for publication : Since the national ballot of minors was taken in accordance with instructions from the Federation, officers had been ‘striving to get a conference with the coal owners through the Government, with a view of arriving at .settlement. After several days the officers'extracted two proposals from the Government, that is (1) a Commission, and (2) if the employers refused a Commission, they guaranteed a conference, conditionally that men returned to work while negotiations were progressing, without committing the men to either proposals. We agreed to place them before all unions including those idle,‘with a request, to return to work while these negotiations were on. The Blackball, Boa and Millerton unions disagreed with the proposals to return to work, and Messrs Parry and O’Bonrko wore putting the proposals before the northern unions, hut he did hot know the result. But none of the moi*thorn, mines were on strike. Yesterday morning, on his return to town lie (Mr Semple) received a memorandum from the Minister of Mines, informing him that the Government had arranged a. conference lorihwith between the owners and the Federation representatives conditionally that the men re- • tinned to work while the conference was proceeding. Tt will thus be scon that the minors have won out on the question of recognition of their organisa ion. and arc now in a position to moot the employers round the table to discuss the question of a 20 per cent! increase in wages. But it is for those rs l'i bo on strike to saV whether they will return to work and allow the conference to take place- If he conference turns out unsuccessful' n f ■ y,n ¥ aKain in the miners' hamJs. Seeing that they asked the Government, to call „ conference he t?" ii. 7lQ pthcr course left onen for them but to return to work and comply with the Minister’s requests office o * s s , a , tlsf actory settlement. The SSL" *"• *»» everything that was humanly possible wn^H 0 ® n . i ? ut , tho conference and it othh o said officers that rct rrl S fl ' ollf , bc dono Hiat might fh..f , endeavours. Everything ? een cl mte had /been carried out nun due consideration of all the stti rounding circumstances and in strict r°l Tf y W ‘, th , iho instructions rcf™m Hie Federation, and the aaC i” ni Reived yesterday was Mil stantial proof' that the work done f ° r the good not only of the nuncTs but of the whole community, Ihe Federation h a( i absolute confidence '] U *U 1C ? 9/ miners’ demands, tun w, l ' lf th ° employers are at fill liberal the miners’ request for an anTfbt Wlll , be 'Bunted without dclav. and thus put an end to what promised V* atl °- nal dislocation of indus! tries. Pile miners on the West Coast nt L 'i 1 r9 unoUs ? n their opinions that Goraraission was not a satisfactory nay in which to attempt to settle tho dispute, which had now been before he employers for the past seven or eight months and the men rightly think that the matter ought to ho seitled without further dclav. But they are not opposed to a Commission o go generally into the coal question. [Pkr Press Association.] _ WELLINGTON, August 30. Tlio coalowners have agreed to meet the men in conference, and the reply ing 11 miners 7S cx P ecte d this ovenIt is understood that one of the conditions is that the men shall resume work at once. millerton still out. [Per Press Association.] WESTPORT. August 30. I he Millerton miners, at a ballot this morning, decided by 125 to 53, not to return to work. Tho other Buller distnct mines are working. Mr 11 Semple left for the south this'morninw,' ca ionto lor Wellington. ■ n