THE COAL STRIKES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 288, 24 August 1918, Page 8

THE COAL STRIKES

CONFERENCE OR ROYAL COMMISSION

r -DECISION OF GOVERNMENT

STRIKES MAY END AT ONCE

Til© decision of tlio Government on the coal mines trouble, which lias culminated in the strike of u thousand miners, is that if tljo coal owners do not agree to u.eat tho'delegates of tlio Miners' federation in conference a-.Royal Commission ii to ;bo set up to investigate all the items in the total cost of coal to the consumer, including the hewiitg rates paid to the miners. Ono of the conditions to boyinsiatcd on is that tho men must go back to n'ork at once. To this condition ■ jlcssri. Semple, O'lioiirke, and Parry havo'agreed, and they have left for tho coast, after telegraphing » request to the strikers to go back to work. The mine owners are to meet on "Wednesday to consider the suggestions of the Government. It muy bo that-,they will 1 not agree to cither of tho alternii- ; fives suggested, but in that event it "seems to be fairly certain that the Koyal ' Commission will still be set up, and that tho investigation will be made. The proposed constitution of the Royal ..Commission is not .a (usual one. Two ;representatives of the miners and two of the mine owners are to be choseif by ~,tho two bodies interested, the minora .clioosin's their delegates, and the owners their delegates. These four uioni--liors .ire to elect a fifth to sit as chairman/ and in the event of their being unable to agree the Government will appoint a chairman. Each side is to have the assistance in the investigation of a charactered accountant, but these two accountants will not be members of tho commission. They will'bo engaged by/the parties to facilitate the investigation. The question is sure to ariso as to (lie dato from which any increase in hewing rates which may be tho outcome of tlio inquiry ''should bo paid. No definite agreement seems to have been made about this, but the suggestion of tho Government' is that the. fixing of the date from which increases should bo paid be left to the Commission. It is understood that the miners "agree to this, but it is doubtful whether all these suggestions will be approved by tho mine owners.

' ■ The order of reference of the Commission has not yet ten determined. The union ..delegates have submitted certain questions for" inquiry, and it is und'erBlood that the Government is prepared to accept them. The mine owners will also have an opportunity of submitting ■ other questions. It is expected that the miners now on 6trike will go back to work next week. POSITION ON THE WEST COAST ■ MILLERTON AND GRANITY COLLIERS DECIDE NOT TO RESUME. I By Telegraph—Press Association. ' Westoort, August 23. Many colliers have come into- town, and they .appear to be quite indifferent .to matters. ,A combined meeting of colliers residents Millerton aud Granity yesterday decided by 208 votes,to 13 not to resnmo work, it is difficult to find out the exact nature of the ballot put to tho men. • If something is not done<even Westport will experience a coal shortage before long. There is. practically no coal stored, and supplies ore . becoming very , limited. - ■' It is reported that ; Mr. Semple sent a pies to the miners. to continue working - in the meantime, until some definite arrangement had been come to -in.lVel- , lington. Developments are anxiously waited by the tradespeople. WESTPORT-SIO CKTO'N DISPUTE SETTLED. • ■ Westportj August 23. A meeting.-.of mino .managers and deputies representing tho Buller and Grey districts was held in Westport this afternoon in ; reference to-the dispute at the .Westport-Stockton Company's mine, and it is understood , that ,an amicable settlemeat was reached and.that tho deputies .will resume work on Monday. The Millerton mine is' still idle, but tho, Denniston .mine }s working away as usual. STATE MINERS STILL AT WORK. 'Gfoymouth, August 23. The Roa''and Blackball miners are , still out." ■ . A meeting of the State Miners' Union ' was.to have been held to-night, but ■it rwas-put oil.on receipt of a telegram from Wellington, which intimated that niem.ibera of the Federation would arrive hero on-Satuiday evening and,confer with . tha miners on Sunday,: putting before i them , the Government's : proposal. Tho State miners will be working to-day.