THE COAL DEADLOCK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 260, 22 July 1918, Page 4

THE COAL DEADLOCK

MINERS ASK AID OF PUBLIC.

A meeting was held in the Kinii's Theatro last night the purpose of which was to enable the representatives of tho conlminers to lay before tho public of Wellington their side of the case in their dispute with tho owners of tho mines,. Mr. W. T. Young was in tho chair, and. tho principal speakers on behalf of tho miners wero Mr. R. Semplc ond Mr. W. I'nrry. I The following resolution moved by Mr. .T. Read was carried by tho meeting:— "That this meeting of Wellington citizens considers that tho minors of tho Dominion arc completely justified in tho demands they are making through their national organisation for increased wages, condemns tho arbitrary attitude of tho Coalmine Owners' Association in refusing to meet the Millers' Federation in conference, and in view of the present shortage in coal supplies as well as the abnormal prices obtaining it calls upon tho Government to bring about a conference between tho national organisation ot tho workers and employers in the industry, with a view to a satisfactory settlement. Mr. Semplc devoted most of his tinio to an analysis and explanation of tho statement published by tho miners a few days ago. Tho chief point of it was that the miner, although his average wago was a few pcnco less than a pound a (iuy» did not work more on the average than days in tho year, making his total income £>118 .a year,' out of which lie had to provide his own tools and explosives, and that the prices of food commodities had increased out of proportion io the increases that had been made in the vases of the men. On the other side of tho account, he declared that tho owners of the coal were charging excessive prices for the product and making enormous chief point was that (ho miner was not being paid so well a.s the married soldier with three children, that the incoino of .£238 a year as a miner is not financially equal to tho pay and allowances of a soldier with a wito and three children. A reference vas made to this point bv Mr. Semplc. It was not contended by Mr. Semplc that the miner should be paid more than tho soldier, but it was his claim that tho miner should bo paid quite as much, for a miner who hewed coal served tho country no less than the man who carried a bliyonct. •