COAL MINE INDUSTRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 58, 10 March 1937, Page 8

COAL MINE INDUSTRY

WAGES AND CONDITIONS efforts to reach agreement CONFERENCE AT AUCKLAND. [ Per Press Association. ] AUCKLAND, March 9. A further effort to negotiate a new agreement governing wages and working conditions in the New Zealand coal mining industry was begun in Auckland at a conference convened at the request of the Minister of Minister, the Hon. P. C. Webb, between representatives of the New Zealand Coalmine Owners’ Association and the United Mine Workers of New Zealand. The Minister of Mines and the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, were present at the opening of the conference, which was in continuation of one held at Wellington a fortnight ago. The earlier conference had failed to reach an agreement on the matters at issue. The employers were represented by the president of the Coalmine Owners’ Association Mr. C. C. Davis of Christchurch, the secretary (M.'. T. O. Bishop), and officials of the four companies operating in the Waikato, namely, Taupiri Coal Mines. Limited, Pukemiro Collieries, Limited. Renown Collieries, Limited, and Glen Afton Collieries, Limited. Representatives of the National Council of United Mine Workers were, the president (Mr. J. Devlin), the national secretary (Mr. A. McLagan), and Mr. I. Hutchinson. Delegates from the Waikato Miners' Union were also present. The conference was held in camera. It was stated later that, after the two Ministers had addressed the delegates. they were thanked for the Interest they had taken in the welfare of the coal mining industry. They then retired and the conference adjourned until the afternoon in order to enable the mine owners' delegates to consider matters which Mr. Webb had raised. When the sitting was resumed a sub-committee, consisting of five representatives from each side, was appointed to consider several clauses of the existing agreement and to report back to the full conference to-morrow