WEST COAST MINING TROUBLE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2100, 28 January 1908, Page 3

WEST COAST MINING TROUBLE.

■■MINERS DETERMINED NOT TO 31 GIVE WAV.

ministers and men

Press Association. WEST PO UT, Jan. -V , Tlio meeting between .Ministers ami men at Donniston was private, and nothing has been disclosed for publioation, except that a settlement ot the bank-to-bank difficulty is a eoitainty. The miners agreed to the Government acting as intermediary, in having a travelling -time fixed, o, minutes for the lronbrulge mine, and 150 minnies for tlit* Coalbrookdale. Sir Joseph Ward and lion. J. A. Alillar remained at Westport to-ua\ to filially arrange an agreement between the management ot the Westport Coal Company and representatives of the Union. It is understood a. setttlement has averted proseentioii: of men by the Labor I) op artment for continued breach el award, with possible consequential oomphoations. Previous to the opening ot the meeting at Denniston. the miners were determined not to give way. but the reasoning of Sir Joseph V ard and Messrs. Millar ami Colvin influenced them to accept the compromise.

LATER

A SETTLEMENT EFFECTED

THE AGREEMENT SIGNED

MINISTERS RETURN TO WELLINGTON.

WESTPORT. Jan. 27

The conference between Minister.and the miners' delegates and the Westport Coal Co.'s manager concluded this afternoon, with a final settlement of the bank-to-bank difficulty. Clause l(i of the award (providing for nominal overtime) is abolished. ami a new clause substituted, providing for travelling time allowance. 48 minutes for the Ironbridge mine and 13 minutes for the. Coafbrookdale. The new agreement has been signed, and Ministers in taking the matter in hand personally have done marked service to the coal industry of the Dominion. Sir Joseph Ward and the Hon. J. A. Alillar leave for Wellington hv the Tu tanekai this afternoon.