COAL AGREEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1921, Page 4

COAL AGREEMENT

THE .MINERS’ CLAIAIS. [BV TELEOItAI’U —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION j WELLINGTON, .March 16. The miners’ claims for a new agreement covering the coal mining industry of New Zealand were recently received liv the Mine Owners’ Association Irom the Miners’ Federation. Tip.* Federation requested a* Conference for the consideration of the proposals. The employers, however, have resolved that they could "not agree to meet the Federation’s representatives, until wliat they termed “certain farfetched demands” were withdrawn. This decision was communicated at a meeting of the executive some days ag«. Mi* .J .Arbuekle (Federation Seoretarv). to-day forwarded a letter to All* IVyoi* (Koeortary of the Coal Aline Owners’ Association). Air Arbuekle jointed out that the old agreement hav ing expired the Federation is just ill.* in submitting their fresh proposal for a m*w one. Mi* Arbuekle says:- If the Owners’ Association insist on the withdrawal ot our projiosal, there must eertaniK be a fight for our right to a conference to discuss the proposals, which, were mb' rid by the whole of the miners’ unions. “Seeing that your organisation is delaying the bringing about of a new ngrement (ho continues) by refusing a conference, we must insist that aha agreement arrived at must date back to the end of February, 1921.”