THE COAL DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 127, 23 February 1920, Page 6

THE COAL DISPUTE

A SETTLEMENT REACHED

UNIONS TO BE CONSULTED

END OF "GO-SLOW" POLICY

The conference arranged by the Prime Minister for Hie consideration of the coul dispute sat again on Saturday, and succeeded in completing a draft "agreement. The delegates are to meet again to-day for tho purpose of confirming the minutes of tho conference. The draft agreement will bo referred to the miners' unions, antl will require to bo confirmed by them before it becomes operative. Tho terms of tho agreement have not yet been announced. The conference docs not wish them made public until they have been placed before tho unions in the various coal-mining centres.'

The delegates to tho conference speak in very appreciative terms of the work done by the Prime Minister in bringing about a settlement of the long-standing dispute. The miners and mine-owners met to consider the present dispute in August last, and failed to reach agreement. Since then there has bcon a deadlock, nnd tho maintenance of the "goslow" policy by tho unions has involved a very serious reduction in tho output of coal. Mr.' Massey invited representatives of tho two parties to meet him early this month, and the conference has sab on nine days under his chairmanship. Delegates state that his fair altitude, useful suggestions, and determination to secure a settlement have been very important factors in the making of the draft agreement. The "go-slow" policy, it is understood, will be abandoned by tho miners' unons without delay.