COAL MINERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1924, Page 2

COAL MINERS.

[nv TEL EG It A I’ll—Mill Ml ESS ASSOCIATION.] NEW AGREEMENTS.

W EL-RING TON", April 1

The situation which has arisen ill tlio coal mining industry in New Zealand through the granting of substantial cou-ee-sioii.s to the West Coast miners, is likely to keep the representatives of both the mine owners and tlio employees occupied for some time. An inevitable result of granting those concessions was that demands for similar favourable terms were immediately lodged by miners engaged in the industry in other parts of New Zealand. From Nightcaps district in the south to Ilunt]y mines in the North, requests for annufment of the existing awards havo come in. These are now the subject of negotiations between the parties concerned with the Court of Arbitration, with which applications have been filed hv the miners.

A conference between Hie owners and miners in Nightcaps district has been arranged For the middle of the present month, when an endeavour will lie made ] to arrive at a working agreement. This conference will ho attended by Art* Bishop (representative of the New Zealand Miueowners* Feedration). and Mr p. O’Rourke (representative of the --Miners).

Tile question to he discussed is whether the present award, which does not legally expire until next November, shall be set aside, and a new agreement embodying substantially the West Coastterms he substituted for it. It is hoped to arrange a sindiar conference of the parties concerned in the industry at Huutly as soon as the business has been completed in the South.