LABOR CRISIS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1862, 17 September 1906, Page 3

LABOR CRISIS.

HOPES OF SETTLEMENT. a. fwmiNnii PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT

Sydney, Sept. 15,

Tho latest roports from Newcastle regarding to-day’s conference are of a tmre hopeful character. The real crux of the position is the dog watch difficulty. The men are determined on its abolit : on, but it is slated they are now more inclined to discuss tho owners’ proposals for the abolition at the end of the year. Feeling regarding the imminence of a general strike is less pessimistio. There bos been a decided advance in the price of ooal. At Melbourne it has risen ten shillings, and oontraoors have announced the suspension of contracts from to-day. Received 5.24 p.m., Sept. 16. Sydney, Sspt. 16.

At tho Newcastle conference the owners submitted a proposal under whioh they were prepared to abolish tho dog watch at all pits excepting tho East Greta, Stanford, and Merthyr, where speoial conditions obtaiD ; elio to advanoe the hewing rate to foarpenoe, whioh will carry the advance on the price of ooal to ten shillings per ton from tho commencement of next year. After a lengthy and amicable disoussion the oonference adjourned until Tuesday morning. A mass meeting of meD, called for to-morrow, has been adjourned ud(l] Thursday. In the meantime work at the Newoastle pits continues.