COAL VEND.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 8, 4 October 1907, Page 5

COAL VEND.

RISE IN PRICES AND WAGES.

ONE SHILLING PER TON. FROM END OF YEAR. By Telegraph—Association-Copyright. Sydney, October 3. ■As was indicated would be tho easei a meeting of tho Northern Colliery Proprietors' Association has fixed tho price of Newcastle coal. From January 1 next the price'for best coal will be raised from 10s. to Us. per'ton, and other classes will bo advanced in a relative degree. It was understood that tho proprietors intended to discuss tho question of raising tho prieo to twelvo shillings. Tho increase decided on carries an advance of fourpenco per ton in tho hewing rate.

Tiiis. moans tliht the workers get, through the hewing rate, one-third ofthe increase. Mr. James Curloy, General Secretary of the Newcastle. Colliery Employees' Federation, remarked recently that coal had been too low for-year's to allow.of good wages to miners or reasonable profits to owners. Tho fact that in Great Britain prices had taken great strides proved that tho time, was ripe for substantial advances at Newcastle. On'tho Tyne 15s. and lGs. per ton was obtained for first-class coal, and at Cardiff 20s. and 225. per ton was quoted. "We have," added Mr. Curley, "made a formal request to the proprietors of an additional 3d. per ton rise in the hewing rate'from January 1, equivalent to'2s. p'or ton rise in the price of coal, which appears to be a very reasonable advance." Half of this incrcaso has now been granted.