COAL DISPUTE ENDS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 59, 11 March 1937, Page 8

COAL DISPUTE ENDS

COMPLETE AGREEMENT i WAGES TO RISE S PER CENT J PARTIES EXPRESS SATISFAC- | TION- I [ Per Pres. Association- 1 AUCKLAND, March 10. Complete agreement was reached | between members o£ the New Zealand Coalmine Owners’ Association and the New Zealand Miners' Federation, who agreed upon a five per cent, increase in all day wages rates, plus alterations in certain working conditions pnd machinery clauses of the previous agreement. These terms apply to all mines in New Zealand, including the State mines. The Minister of Mines (the Hon. P. Webb) said that the outcome of the conference made him a pleased and happy man. The previous conference in Wellington last month had been without avail, and it was at his instance that the two parties came to Auckland last week to meet him here. He had warned them that if a satisfactory conclusion was not reached it might be necessary to make arrangements for coal to oe imported. At the close of the conference, Mr. C. C. Davis, of Christchurch, told the Minister what had happened, and said that as a result all the lower-paid workers in the mines would receive increases in pay. The owners expected the utmost co operation from the miners and were pleased to have the assurance of the men's representatives that it would be given, and that friction, annoyance and irritation tactics would be ooviated. lie was afraid it was inevitable in many instances that the concessions granted would mean a rise in the price of coal. Mr. A. McLagan, National Secretary of the New Zealand Miners’ Federation, said that he felt sure that many of the minor forms of irritation and disputes would be removed from the industry. The men would do their part. He congratulated Mr. Webb for bringing the parties together and facilitating an agreement between them. The Minister said that if the spirit exhibited at the conference could be reproduced in every other industry in the country there would be a better - planned organisation, better methods of production and distribution. The coalmining industry should now be placed on a firmer basis and if the large dairy factories kept their bins full in the winter time it would materially help the mines to maintain their output through the year end bring contentment among those employed in the coalmining industry. It was the duty of the men to cooperate with the owners in eveiy practical and sensible way. "The Government stands 100 per cent, against any faction which acts f>gainst the interests of the whole community," said Mr. Webb. '"I he success of this conference will mean much good In New Zealand. Had no agreement been reached, and there was a prospect of the industry being dislocated, the Government would not have hesitated to get coal elsewhere.’’ OIL FUEL FROM COAL SUITABLE plant needed STATE MAKING WORLD INQUIRIES [ Ter Press Association. J AUCKLAND, March 10. World-wide inquiries for an efficient hydrogenation plant sufficiently small to suit the requirements of New Zealand for production of oil fuel from coal are being made by the Government. The Minister of Mines (the Hon. P. Webb) made this statement in reply to a question at the coal industry conference. He said that the moment such a plant was produced sufficient to meet the domestic requirements of New Zealand the Government would take steps to acquire it.