THE MINING TROUBLE

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14772, 11 October 1921, Page 5

THE MINING TROUBLE

AN AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN OWNERS AND GAINERSDISTRICT CONFERENCES FAVOURER By Telegraph.—Press Association. WELLINGTON, Monday. A settlement in which the Miner-’" Federation practically recognises the Arbitration Court lias been arrived at between Hie Federation and Hie Coal Mine Owners’ Association. Tile Federation’s policy in completely ignoring Hie proceedings instituted by Hie owners under the terms of the In dustrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act seemed likely to end in a deadlock. With Hie apparent desire to avoid this Messrs Davidson and O’Rourke, president and secretary respectively of the Miners’ Federation, some weeks ago entered into negotiations with representatives of the owners (Messrs Pryor and Bishop)- The later expressed their determination not to depart from theic original policy of reference of the dispute to Hie Arbitration Courts. However. a compromise was effected providing (1) district conferences; (2) the intervention of the Conciliation Commissioner; and (finally) the reference of unsettled points to Ihe Arbitration Court. The majority of the unions have now accepted an agreement, the most significant point of which is the reference to the Arbitration Court. The full terms of the settlement are slates'to lie as follows: 1. A conference will be hold in each district between representatives of the local unions and local companies, and of Ihc Miners’ Federation and Coal Owners’ Association.

2. If nny points arc not agreed upon at any such conference tho Commissioner shall ho risked to attend, and endeavour to bring the parties to an agreement, and failing an agreement being reached before the Commissioner, any remaining points in the dispute to be referred to the Arbitration Court. Distriel conferences arc likely to start very soon, as both sides arc anxious to have the terms of the new agreements settled.

By its action the Miners’ Federation has abandoned its demand for a national agreement, such as that in existence to-day. 1

It is likely that discussion will centre on the claims tiled by the mine owners. These do not suggest any drastic reduction in the rates of pay; in fact, it is understood that the miners propose that the hewing rates shall be unaltered.