COAL MINES DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 268, 8 August 1919, Page 8

COAL MINES DISPUTE

AGREEMENT BEING CONSIDERED O —— - COMMITTEE'AT WORK , Tho conference between representatives "of tho coal miners and tho coal' mine owners did not sit yesterday except for a feiv minutes. In accordance with the agreement made tlie previous day, a committee of three representatives of either side, with Mr. Bishop as representing the State mines, sat for most* of the day. The conference resumed shortly after four o'clock in the afternoon-to receive tho report of the committee. Mr. W. Rcece presided at tho meeting of the conference. The report of the committee aa presented was as follows:— s'The committee recommends: , (1) That a oommitteo of nine members from each side be appointed and empowered ,to <li«ouss a 1 compJ'etaV "working agreement for the coal mining jfldi&fry of New Zealand, on tlie lirraa of present agreements, with each 1 additional matter as the comfiiitteo may consider necessary. (2) That 'the fullest and freest discission shell Ixi allowed l in order that 6 satisfactory agreement may bo arrived at on t.h« lines suggested in.

clause (1). ■ .(8)-The agreement arrived at bv the, oonmdttee to be subject to ratification by the Mine Owners' Association, and by tho Coal Minors' The. report was adopted' without (liscnssdwL It was agreed that Mr. Keece sbonM be Ohalrnism ii the lafjtor committee, TibjOTfereiico Ims adjourned sine dio. It will probably meet, aaain at some time to reeavo tho report ,of this computtee, but that may not be presented for same days. ■ It is understood that some little trouble .twtirrod yesterday on account of the men 3n Blackball pit having adopted a goslow policy. It ia -understood that the trouble was on account of the treatment by'the management of a boy, possibly the dismiss:,! of the boy. Tho causo of complaint on 'the part of tho owneis ivas that the matter was one which should, have been referred to a local Disputes Committee beforo any action was fatea by "tlie. men on tho job." The difference was settled in the course of th,e day by the committee whioh was Bitting.