THE COAL DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 112, 5 February 1920, Page 5

THE COAL DISPUTE.

MEETING OF MINE-OWNERS

THE POSITION REVIEWED

WHY THE PUBLIC ARE SUFFERING

The executive of the New Zealand Coal Mine Owners' Association met in Wellington yesterday, and decided to issue, the following statement with regard to the present position in connection with the deadlock in the coal mines:

"It will be remembered I hat a lengthy conference was held in August last when the coal mine owners, although Ihev could not agree to consider a Dominion agreement owing to (he varying eanditions in the different mines, offered lo meet the individual unions to deal with the local conditions of work, and offered a further bonus of 10-per cent, to contract workers and 15 per cent, to wages men, making in all total increases (luring the war period of 35 per cent, to contract workers and 15 per cent, to wages men.

"The employers' offer was rejected by the federation, which apparently then handed the whole of its interests and tho interests of its members over to tho Alliance of Labour, as since that timo whenever overtures have been mado by this association to tho Miners' Federation with the purpose of arranging for conferences with the miners' unions, this association has been referred to the Alliance of Labour. While the Goal Mine Owners' Association i« prepared to negotiate with.the Miners' Federation lo arrange for conferences with local unions, it definitely declines to recognise any outside body as ono with which negotiations should be carried on.

"Following the Miners' Federation rejection of the coal mine owners' offer, the 'go-slow' policy was decided upon by the federation, and has been in operation for ii period of five months, The results of the operation of that system are that the reduction in the output has amounted to at least 150,000 tons in th<tt period, and that the miners have voluntarily reduced their earnings from an average of approximately 225. per dav to about 15s. per day. "That being the case, it is evident that not only have the public suffered very considerably as the result of tho shortage in the coal supply, in that not only have the people had difficulty in securing supplies, but they have had to pay high prices'-which would not have been necessary if the normal output had been maintained, but the fact that earnings have been restricted to 15s. per day for such a lengthened period apparently implies that this amount is a living wage, and that the offer of the employers which would en'ablo an average of 255. ner day to bo earned is a more than liberal one.

"With regard to the nresent earnings of minors as referred to by Mr. Arbuekle in the Press recently, it has to be said that the coal mine owners cannot accent any responsibility therefor while tho 'po-'low' nolicy is in operation. "As indicating the rates of pay which would have been earned since August last if Hie mine owners' offer had been accepted, tho following extract from information given to the conference, by Mr. T. O. Bishop (Acling-Umler-Secretary of tho Mines Department) is quoted:— ■Miners, average 255. Od. per day Truckers and horsedrivers 15s. 2d. per shift Men in charge of ropo road 15s 2d. per shift Tippers and lamp, trimmers Ms. Gd. per shift, Carpenters and.(black-, smiths lGs. 5(1. per shift Yardmen, outside worlt- <. ers, and tool sharpeners 15s. Od. per shift Thus, if nine shifts per fortnight are worked, as stated by Mr. Arbuekle, miners would have been earning ,£ll ss. net fortnight or £5 12s. 6d. per week, shiftworkers from J!B 10s. Gd. per week, shift

£3 ss. 3d. per week to .£7 7s. 9(1. per fortnight or i£3 13s. 101(1. per week. If, however, the full time available (11 shifts per fortnight) were worked, the above earnings would be proportionately increased, "The actual position, therefore, is that the mine owners have been prepared at any time since the conference to nay tho increased rates immediately normal operations were resumed, and to meet their

own unions as hitherto, to discuss conditions of work as applicable to ?ac.h individual mine. Instead of accepting tho mine owners" offer the federation lias caused the miners to earn thousands of pounds less in wages than they could nave earned, and by its action has sevi. ously hampered the industries of tho country, and besides causing a shortngs in domestic supplies has compelled the general public to pay higher prices for coal than it should have done.

"It should bo noted that in the last offer made to the federation 1115 cnal mine owners refrained from making tho stipulation that normal operations should bo resumed before any conference with a union'took plice. This was done in the belief that if the representatives of tho various mining companies wee ablo to meet the representatives of their own •unions, agreements would bo arranged without much trouble or delay.

"Tho executive of the association would therefore urge upon the federation excoutive to now agree that conferences with the individual unions should be arranged as early as possible, ir. which case no exception would bo taken to a representative of the federation executive attending such conference and acting as one of tho ihlcgates.'"