COAL DISPUTE MAY BE SETTLED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17834, 30 April 1926, Page 9

COAL DISPUTE MAY BE SETTLED.

MEN’S SECRETARY SAYS HE IS HOPEFUL. Pr Tol«|riiph.-«*Pnii>i> Copyright. Aui. and N.Z. i'abl* Aiaodatton. (Received April 30. 10.40 a.m.) SYDNEY* April 30. Mr Gibson, secretary of the Engine Drivers' and Firemen's Association, states that although negotiations have not been reopened he us hopeful that the coal dispute will be amicably settled before the expiry of the Association's ultimatum to the owners on May 8 He described as futile Mr Justice llibbless suggestion that the Association •hould try to settle the trouble by constitutional means. "For over six years,’* says Mr Gibson, "our members have followed constitutional methods and those methods have unfortunately landed our members in the position we find ourselves to-day. The position is that while in metalliferous industries highly skilled craftsmen, namely the winding-engine drivers, arc paid from 33 per cent, to 50 per cent, above the labourers* rate in the coal mining industry they receive only 16 2-3 per cent, more. These are the Australian rates. In European countries winding-engine drivers receive double the rates paid to labourers.” In reply to a question Mr Lang said that he had every confidence that the matter would be settled in the course ©I the next few days.