COAL CONFER ONCE

Hokitika Guardian, 17 February 1920, Page 3

COAL CONFER ONCE

HOPES OF SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTE.:

[per TRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.]

DUNEDIN,. February 12

It is confidently anticipated locally that the protracted dispute in the New Zealand coal-mining industry will -be brought to an end within a few days—that an acceptable settlement p's certain. The circumstances in connexion with the present conference- at Wellington under the presidency of the Prime Minister, between representatives of the mi lie-owners and the miners, are said to justify confident expectation of a definite conclusion to a stubborn dispute with very few redeeming features. There whs no- compulsion about the conference. Mr Massey got the parties to .agree to come together again around the table, a-fter each side had made preliminary concessions in the nature of compromise— the miners agreed to the exclusion from the conference of the Alliance of Labour, and the owners are willing to make certain financial concessions. The parties, in short, meet on the understanding that the deadlock must ho broken, and the industry given productive smoothness. It is practically certain that substantial increases will he made in hewing rates and in shift wages. The advances will not he less than 10 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively, and they may -even be a little more. It is also expected that concessions will be granted in respect to working conditions. In return for these, the go-slow policy will he abandoned throughout the industry, and -an increased output guaranteed.

Tlie results will, of course, intimately concern the interests of the public. The increases will be passed on to consumers, the advances probably ranging from 2s to 3s per turn, according to quality. If a settlement be arrived at, it will be of special interest to notice if all the companies increase the selling prices of coal. In October last one or two collieries, anticipating a settlement, adjusted their prices to meet prospective changes in conditions. In other eases the effects of the go-slow policy necessitated a substantial increase in prices ty balance losses owto high up-keep charges. The continuation of the deadlock did not bring about a withdrawal of .such incroases in the coal market. Will the Board of Trade put a tight rein on the companies who for several months have enjoyed the increases in selling rates which would have been general if the dispute had ended in October last? Many people are really anxious to know when the Government intend to suppress the practice of increasing prices before the necessity for increase.

THE COAL CONFERENCE

WELLINGTON, This Day

The Coal Conference sat yesterday, but no finality was reached. No statement was made as to the progress, hut some of the delgates are confident that good work is being done. The Conference resumes this morning, lint it is 'b'lihtful if to-day wilLseo its conclusion.