COAL CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1920, Page 1

COAL CONFERENCE.

IMPORTANT PROPOSALS.

I AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION]

(Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 16

A conference between Sir G. Horne and the Miners Federation Executive was the most conciliatory on both sides that lias occurred during the present crisis. After meeting in the morning it adjourned at midday for two hours, during which period Horne saw Lloyd George. An official account of the proceedings shows the men submitted proposals for an immediate concession of the wages demand and secondly no increase in th© price of home consumed coalj owing to the foregoing; thirdly, the appointment ojf a representative tribunal to enquire into the' question f reducing the price of domestic coal with Government undertaking to accept its report; fourthly, enquiry into the G auses of the declining output. The Executive also expressed a desire to accept the Government proposal for an enquiry with a view to a revision of the present complicated system of calculating

wages. Mr Smillio in this connection, admitted the substitution of fixed rates for piece rates as one of the causes of declining output, but if piece rates were adopted, the men wanted security against a reduction of those rates is the output increased. Sir G. Horne replying, cordially agreed with the justice of the last demand, and said the .other proposals were a great advantage towards peace and full settlement especially the way men had coupled the qiie.q_ tion of an increase of wages with sug gestions as regards increased output, but there was no possibility of accepting the third proposal. Further discussion revealed a sharp difference of opinion on the subject of the demand for an immediate increase of wages, Sir G. Horne refused to agree to this without a prior investigation by an impartial tribunal. Mr Smilli© declared this must he settled before the other demands were considered. It was useless to try to get the Miners Conference to postpone the strike, unless they couhl tell if the wages demand were granted. Horne agreed that if an increase f output were assured an advance of wages could doubtless be given. The conference adjourned until to-morrow.