COAL TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1929, Page 6

COAL TROUBLE

MINE OWNER’S COMMENT. (Australian Press Association) SYDNEY , September 24. Discussing the Coal Commission s report, -Mr Macdonald, Secretary of the Asociated Northern Colleries’ Proprietors, said that the report shoved clearly there was no ground -whatever for wild talk as to the profits from these mines being from os to 9s per ton. Nothing, he said, would convince political and industrial agitators to the contrary. The country had been put to huge expense through the Commission’s inquiry, which, after an exhaustive investigation, had found the position very much as stated by the Government a year ago. GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL. REVIEWED FOR WAGE CUT. SYDNEY, September 24. Tlie New South Wales State Cabinet to-day considered the Coal Commission’s report, after which All’ Bavin, the Premier, sent a letter to Air Davies, General Secretary of the Miners’ Federation, asking if the combined unions are prepared to accept tlie Government’s proposals of September 14th, 1929, providing for the reduction of one shilling per ton in their wages, which is equal to 12-J per cent, off their contract earnings, and a shilling per day off the wages of the other labour; the State Government to reduce the coal handling and haulage charges to the extent of 25d per ton; and the Federal Government to pay a bounty of a shilling per ton on coal sent to inter-state ports.