THE COAL DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 1, 26 September 1919, Page 8

THE COAL DISPUTE

GOVERNMENT ASKED TO INTERVENE

QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE

Questions about tho cor.l mines digputo were asked in the House of Representatives last night.

Mr. R. Semple asked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that tho coal owners of tlie Dominion had removed their part of the liability in connection with tho dispute and placed it on the shoulders of the general public by increasing the price of coal, ho would tako immediate steps in tho interests of the community to bring both parties together, employers and employees, with a view of ending this dispute as speedily as possible.

Mr. Massey said that ho was R6 anxious as anybody to end tho dispute, but he had no powor. He had no power, for instanco, to bring the parties together compulsorily for a conference. Mr. Scniplo: Will you use your influence ?

Mr. Ma- C sey: I have done it. Mr. Semple: With no result? Sir Joseph Ward said that there had been a great deal of interest in this matter on tho part of the gonoral public, and if eiliher party raised objection to coming together, he. thought tho matter was of so much importance that the Prime Minister should ur«;e that there should bo a conference. If What did not avail, then he thought Parliament should step in. He was not at all sure that the two parties to the dispute should bo loft in solo charge of the situation, and ho thought that in order that some way out might be found from a very difficult position there should be at the conference representatives of other interests. He would suggest representatives of the farmers, of certain industries, and representatives of Parliament in tlio person of tho Prime Minister and tho Loader of tho Opposition. He made tho suggestion heenvso ho thought that tho matter was of the very greatest importance to the country. There were, thousands of poor people in the country who were suffering because of the enormous price to which coal had risen, and the "go-slow" policy of ■ the miners had accentuated the position. There was no evidenco that tlio two. sides to the disput were likely to come together, and '>e would ur°e, that an effort no made to bring them together, as the question was of so much importance. Mr. Semple: What about the Labour Party? Sir Joseph Ward saitl that he understood that the Labour Party was represented by the whole of one side in the disnute, but 'he .recognised that Labour had as good a right to be represented as any other section of the community. He feared that no- good result would come of the drifting policy, and he thought they should "consider whetlher Parliament should not insist upon bringing minds to bear on the questions nt issue.

Mr. Massey said: The position at present is that some mines havo dropped the "go-slow" policy, and have got back to normal output. I am sorry to sr.y that tho majority of the miners are continuing the "go-slow" policy, and tho result is that the output is reduced as compared with that of a month ago. I have communicated with both sides to tho dispute. T'he 'employers eay that they have made an offer, and thnt thflir offer is still open. They havo offered a considerable increase both for contract work and for shift wages, and this offer is still open, and they will not go any further. They point out that if tlhey go further it must mean a considerable increase in tho price-of coal to the consumer. I have gono to the length of finding a chairman for them. I had proposed Mr. Harlo Giles or Mr. Newton, both of them good men for the .duty. I have made this offer to them. Mr. Semple: Who has refused the offer?

Mr. Massey said that both sides seemed to be obstinate. The miners had certainly asked fox another conference, but the mine owner,? said that no good purpose could b» served in having another conference.