THE COAL CRISIS

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13851, 31 August 1918, Page 5

THE COAL CRISIS

CONFERENCE AND COMMISSION. (By Telegraph—Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Friday. It is now becoming evident that the Government has induced the coal mine owners to accept a conference with the miners' leaders, which the mining federation has been requesting for several weeks. The coal owners are fully alive to the serious national issues at stake over the maintenance of the coal output, and have, I understand, promised to concede the disputed point of a conference on condition that all mines resume work. Thus the prospects of a peaceful settlement have greatly improved. There is to be a commission of inquiry as well as a conference of the two parties to the dispute. The high price of coal has caused much dissatisfaction to consumers, who have been greatly hustled and perturbed over the miners' allegations of profit mongering. Therefore there is to be a separate investigation of this aspect of the question to satisfy the minds of the public, who, says the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, Minister for Mines, have exercised great patience, and have the right to know the position. As the Board of Trade has other important works in hand, the Government may utilise its power to delegate this duty to some other per-sont-appointed as a Commission of Inquiry under the Cost of Living Act.