THE COAL DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 66, 11 December 1919, Page 12

THE COAL DISPUTE

DEADLOCK CONTINUES EMPLOYERS MAKE AN OFFER REJECTED BY THE MINERS Some correspondence has been exchanged by tho New Zealand Coal Mine Owners' Association and the Miners' Iteration regarding the coal dispute. Tho mine owners havo expressed their willingness to meet tho miners in conference on certain conditions, which are not accepted by tho federation. Tho secretary of the Mine Owners' Association wroto to Mr. J. Arbuckle, secretary of the Minors' Federation, on November 2-7, as follows:— Dear Sir,—On Saturday last I wrote to th-s Prime Minister conveying to him tho terms upon which tho Coal lime Owners' Association would bo prepared to agreo to a further conferenco in connection ivith tho coal mines dispute. It is understood that the association's proposals havo been communicated to you, but as up to tho present no reply has been received, it is thought that perhaps they may not have reached you. Imorder to removo any doubt on this point I have to advise that tho terms npon which tho association is prepared to agreo to a conference are as under:— 1. That the normal output and working conditions bo resumed immediately in all mines. 2. That a conferenco ho arranged after normal operations havo been resumed and maintained in all mines for a period ui" two weeks. 3 That the conferenco be agreed to under the following conditions: (a) That only representatives of tho Now Zealand Cool Mino Owners' Association and the Now Zealand Minora' Federation lie present at the conference, (b) That the conference consist of four representatives from each side, (c) That all parties agree to ixs bountl by tho decision of tho conference. Only tho following matters to bo discussed: (d) Clauses re Australian miners, '(e) Right to apply for amendments of agreements on account of increased cost of living, (f) All mines to be bound by any agreement entered into, (s) Consideration of tho demand for fieo tools and explosives othonviso than as may bo agreed under clause 3 hereof, the proposals of tho employers submitted to tho conference on August 12 to be adopted as a full settlement of die dispute. I will bo glad to learn as oarly as possible if tho federation is prepared to egreed to a conference on tho terms as sec forth above.—Yours faithfully, (Sgd.) William Pryor, secretary. The reply of the federation, dated December 2, was as follows:— Mr W. I'ryor, Secretary N.Z. Coal Mino Owners' Association. Dear Sir,—ln reply to your letter of Ji'ovember 27 I havo to state that I havo consulted with my executive on this matter, and they havo instructed mo to state that tho contents of the Prime Minister's letter has been placed lieforo them and they havo endorsed the reply sent to tho Prime Minister by the Alliance of Labour secretary. 1 am also instructed to stato that the dispute is in tho hands of the Alliance of Labour, and that all communications in regard to the matter of an agreement must be sent to the secretary of that federation—Yours faithfully, "(Sgd.) J. Arbuckle, secretary. The secretary of the Mine Owners' Association'wrote again on December G: J. Arbuckle, Esq., Secretary N.Z. Miners' Federation, P.O. Box 1113, Wellington. Dear Sir,—l have to advise you that your letter of 2nd. inst. was considered at a meeting of the executivo of the association held on sth inst., as was also the reply of the secretary of tho Alliance of Labour to tho Prime Minister's <niggestiion for a conference on the terms proposed by this association. With regard to that reply I am instructed to say that the coal mine owners could not possibly agree to again discuss "all questions affecting labour in the coal mining industry/' The whole of the claims ofyour federation were fully and openly discussed at the August conference, and therefore no good purpose could be served by again dealing with matters upon which ihere is no probability of agreement, especially as the mine owners are not prepared to materially alter the offer then made to your federation. After full consideration of the whole matter the following resolutions were adopted by my executive and are now forwarded to you for your information anil for the information of the several unions connected with your federation: I. Tho mino owners see no reason to depart from their previous decision, viz., 1 hat.they cannot sec their way to discuss ♦he settlement of new agreements between the miners and themselves n;ltji any other organisations than the miners' unions and the Miners' Federation. 2 That the mine owners in all cases when, agreements havo expired havo sigr.ified their re.'ufeoss to discuss with their unions (there being a union at each mine) new agreements covering working conditions as affecting each particular mines'. That mine owners would aga.in nrgo that constitutional tribunals have been eet up in this country to settle all disputes on labour matters, viz., conciliation councils and the Arbitration Court, and that in the interests of tho public and all concerned, the present dispute should bo submitted to these tribunals to investigate ani>t!> make awards. 4 That upon tho cessation of tho goslow policy at any mine, the mine owners «ro quite willing to enter into a new agreement with the union at such mine, any such agreement to include provision for the increased bonus of 10 per cent, end 15 per cent, as previously olf»ved. Yours faithfully, (Sgd.) W. Pryor.