GOAL SITUATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12755, 26 September 1919, Page 10

GOAL SITUATION.

BEARING A CRISIS. GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION. [Fsck Onr, Cosjlesrokdent.3 WELL.LN GTON. September 25. ibe coal situation appears to be nearing a crisis. The coulowners decline to meet the men’s delegates to discuss the terms they wish to put forward, especially while the go-slow policy is m operation. Communications have been passing between tire Prime Minister nnd the parties in the hope ol bringing about a euntorcr.ee under the chairmanship of the Wellington Conciliation Commissioner, but the result has been fruitless. ilxr Massey’s latest letter to the Miners’ Federation is stated to contain a threat to institute prosecutions against all concerned in aiding or abetting a go-slow strike. This is regarded with resentment by members of the Alliance of Labour, who appear to be aimed at as well as the miners’ delegates. The Alliance will meet here tomorrow to consider the situation.

ANOTHER CONFERENCE. OPPOSITION LEADER’S I SUGGESTION. ' i i DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. j [From Ouk Cobresi'oxdem'.] j WELLINGTON. September 25. I Air Semple asked the Prime Minister j to-night if lie could take immediate j steps, in the interests of, the whole | community, to bring the coal mine- ! owners and miners together with a view to ending the dispute as speedily as possible. Air Aiassoy; I am as anxious to end the. dispute as everyone else, but 1 have no power io compel either section to come to a conference. :: The Prime Alinister added that ho had tried lus moral influence to arrange a conference, but without result. Sir .Joseph Ward remarked that there was a great deal of anxiety throughout the country, and unless sopiething were done to bring the two sides together again and a settlement was reached, it was hard to tell what might happen. Ho considered that tho j matter was or sufficient importance for the Prime Alinister to urge that there be another conference. Mr Massey: 1 have already done it. •Sir Joseph Ward: AVeil. it may be a matter for Parliament- The position ns growing very serious. Aly opinion is that iu addition to ordinary representatives of ihc mine-owners and workers there should he representatives of various industries at the coulerence. I would suggest that there | be a conference including representaj lives of industries, of farmers., of tho j Railway Department and of the skipping industry, and that Parliament should be represented, say, by the Pn'me Alinister and the leader of tho Opposition. Numbers of poor people at tiie present moment aro sufitiring from the excessive price to which coal has risen, while the go-slow policy of the miners has accentuated the trouble. 1 think the mat.ter is of sufficient importance for holding a conference such as I suggest. Air Semple; Why not include a representative of_ the Labour Party? Sir Joseph Ward; I understand that the Labour Party is already fully represented on one side. lam quit© agreeable that the Labour Party should have a representative, but 1 certainly think the Prime Alinister should consider whether Parliament should insist upon bringing impartial ! minds, representing the country’s iuj clustria interests, to bear on the matj NT with the object of a. settlement, i We should then also find out definitely who is really responsible for the pro- ) sent state of affairs.

Ihe Prime .V!mister explained that some oi the miners had dropped the go-slow policy, and iu such instances the output, was hack to normal, hut ho was sorry to say the gieat majority oi the minors were inclined to slow methods. He had communicated with noth sales. The employers stated that their offer was still open, involving a considerable increase both tor contract work and for day labour. Thov refused to go further, declaring that a further_ increase would mean an increase in tho price of coal to consumers. The Prime Minister added that lie, had offered to provide a chairman ,or the conference, in the shape of a Cnneiiiation Commissioner, either Mr ilarlo Oile* or Mr Hally, both emincntly ti’cti £Vk 0, ;vt sueli a. conference, fug both sides seemed to bo iiarticularly obstinate. Mr Masscy added that the representative* ol the miners had asked for another conference, hut the representatives of the uunc-owuers rolnsc-d to participate, that no purpose "unuld oc served by it. •['he obstinacy of the miners consisted iu tho com- uuanco of the go-slow policy.

Mr Semple: the responsibility rests on the employers.