THE COAL STRIKES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 292, 29 August 1918, Page 6

THE COAL STRIKES

GOVERNMENT TAKES ACTION

AN INQUIRY TO BE HELD

RESUMPTION OF WORK EXPECTED

No news about the negotiations between the coal mine owners and Ministers was communicated to the Press yesterday. Tho arrangement, was that the. Minister of Defence (Sir. James Allen) should make such communication to tho Press as might be deemed desirable, and this arrangement was Faithfully observed. The coal owners held their meeting in tho earlier part of the day, giving their views and proposals to Ministers in tho afternoon. T.hen the matter was considered by Cabinet.

T>he following was the announcement matle by Sir James Allen: "Tho Government have taken steps which, it is hoped, will secure the return of tho miners to work immediately. Tho Government have also determined to institute an inquiry under Sections 7 and 8 of the Cost of Living Act into tile cost of production of coal and of its distribution." The Minister said ho could give no details about the proposals of the Government, because they would have first to be submitted to tue miners.

The reference to the Cost of Living Act —the Act under which the Board of Trade was constituted—is to two clauses which give to the Board of Trade power to delegate their authority for tho purpose of any particular inquiry to other persons. In this case it will certainly not be considered that tho Board of Trade could conduct the inquiry satisfactorily, and the body to make that investigation will consist in whole or in part of men who have a close acquaintance with the coal business at some point. This clause iii tho Cost of Living Act had probably been overlooked, when the first mention was made of Royal Commission. The effect of this inquiry by another body not constituted a Royal Commission will bo much the same as would have been an inquiry by Royal Commission. There is no ohange reported in the strike sitaa-tion. The four mines on the Coast are still closed, and the Huntly men went to work yesterday as usual.

NO OHANGE AT THE MINES. By Telegraph—Preßs Association. Westport, August 28. There is nothing substantial to report regarding the coal crisis. Mr. R. Semple addressed a meeting at Denniston last night, and will deliver addresses at Stockton and Millerton tonight. The Denniston mine is working, but the others are not. There are persistent rumours of trouble between the Stockton and Millerton men and Mr. Semple. The whole position is veiled in obscurity, and something definite should happen within ;the next twenty-four hours. MINERS VOTE ON QUESTION OF RESUMPTION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Westciort, August 28. The Denniston Miners' Union has resolved to continuo work for the present. It is assured that a decision will be arrived at in a fortnight's time. The Stockton miners resolved, by 90 votes to 45, to resumo work to-morrow morning. The Millerton miners, by 207 votes to 15, resolved against tho resumption of work. It is reported that when Stockton learned of Millerton's decision there was a strong feeling in favour of reconsidering the decision, and that this probably will be done to-morrow, so that indications aro not very favourable to a resumption of work there. BALLOTS TAKEN BY,NORTHERN MINERS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, August 28. Ballots were taken by the miners of Huntly, Pukemiro, and Rotowaroa yesterday on the question of a strike or a Royal Commission. The result will not be known till the end of the week. DIVERGENT VIEWS OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYED. By Telegraph.—Proas Association. Dunedin, August 28. The Dunedin Manufacturers' Association discussed the proposal of the Government to set up a Royal Commission to consider the eoai crisis, and passed a resolution to tho effect that it was impcrativo that the Government should not countenance any breach of industrial agreements, and deprecating most strongly any action tending to ovcrrido the powers of tho Arbitration Court.

The Ota go Labour Council passed a motion congratulating the Government on tho action taken regarding a conference. and strongly urging that if the conference fails th& Government should sot set up a Royal Commission to thoroughly investigate the causes of disagreement. The motion deprecated tho action of the Employers' Association "in ondeavouring to crcate a serious dislocation of industry."