COAL MINERS' WAGES

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 6688, 13 August 1919, Page 3

COAL MINERS' WAGES

OFFER BY OWNEES. PROPOSALS BY THE MEN. Wellington, Augmt 11. I The coil ni'iors and the coal owncr-i, who :;ave oena vlling for many days in an endeavour to settle an industrial dispute as to the, wages of mine workers, seem to be nearer to final agreement than at any previous time during the conference. The companies made an offer to the men on Saturday, and the men have replied not accepting it, but making certain other proposals. These arc now under consideration by tlrj companies' representatives The exact terms of the employers' offer are not known, but it is understood that the proposal was for a 10 per cent, increase in hewing rates and a 15 per cent, increase in shift rates. At any rate the increase, if accepted, would have involved an increase of 2s (id per ton in the price of coal without allowing for possible increases in freight , The conference will probably end tomorrow or the following day.