COAL COMMISSION REPORT PRESENTED

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19034, 1 April 1930, Page 1

COAL COMMISSION REPORT PRESENTED

BOARD WITH WIDE POWERS IS URGED. (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received April 1, 11 am.) SYDNEY, April 1. The Royal Commission which inquired into the coal industry last year has furnished its report to the Premier, Mr T. R. Bavin. The report recommends that there should be a more ready method of settling disputes than now exists, preferably by a board consisting of three members that should be equipped with extensive powers and have security of tenure in order to enable it to develop and give effect to a definite policy. It should be paid for by a fund provided from levies on all coal raised. This board should have power to fix the selling price of coal, also miners’ rates of pay and hours. If possible, it should institute schemes of prosperity sharing, and also act as a conciliation or arbitration tribunal with power to appoint committees to hear and determine disputes, to impose fines, and to decide what mines, if any, should be closed. It is also suggested that the board should be empowered to license employees in the coal industry and withdraw the licenses for any just cause, and, should a strike or lock-out occur, to declare who is responsible, and what measures should be adopted for the engagement of fresh labour. Upon the question of the fixation of coal prices the Commission pointed out that drastic reform in this direction was imperative, owing to the increasing desire by the public to protect their own interests. The high price of coal and the disturbed conditions in this industry were interfering with national efficiency and it was necessary that the Government should assume suitable means of control. The new objective must be not merely to eliminate over-capacity and over-man-ning, but also to stimulate the market by lowering costs. One step in this direction would be effected by reducing the ratio between the earnings of the more highly paid employees and those paid on daily rates and by making the wages of all mine workers conform more closely to those of the workers of th.e same degree of skill in other industries.