COAL DISPUTE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1930, Page 3

COAL DISPUTE

POINTS TO BE SETTLED ON

By Telegraph— Per Press Association.)

WELLINGT’ONy June (j

, The conference between the Tepre- ' ,entafives of the District oouncil of Li tiers’ Unions and the representatives of West - Coast coal mining companies, which began Tuesday 27th, .[ay, for the purpose of making a new corking agreement for' Butler and Grey District Collieries, terminated op 3rd inst,. without finality being readied. At the commencement of the conference, botli sides’ submitted numerous proposals for alteration's to ’ the ekx-

•' d agreement; and these 'were’all discussed at length. Tli6 issues iVere pally narrowed down to five, which

ere as 'follows :

G) Miners’ minimum wage.—This !■’iisp the employees seek to amend so Mint the minimum wages shall be cal••ulated on a fortnightly basis, instead >f on the weekly basis as at present ’’his would bring the clause, into line with those in agreement oping in other district of New Zealand. rz) Wet. time '-Ijiuse.—This Ibe.euf'oyers seek to amend so as to.tighten pi the definition of a. wet place'somewhat, and also to provido that when a place can be,made dry it sjipli ,_be made dry. p- . . ’

Ml) Clause 21, providing for engagement .of men.—This the miners seek ‘o delete. The employers offered to upiend it to read as follows: “While ■<t any niinp .there arc employees of bat mine who are members of . tlm T Tnion or Braiipb Union, at that mine waiting .'for employment _(other .tliaii uv who may have been dismissed for misconduct) who, in the opinion of the management, are competent to fill. any vacancy that may arise, the Manager shall not engage new men to fill the

-afancies ; but that with this exception there shall be no restriction upon the right of Mine Managers in the engagement of now bands, and any •nse of alleged injustice in the omifovment of men shall bo referred to i committee of three representatives of the Miners’ District Council and Mi roe representatives of tfie New Zea'■Mid Coal Mine Owners’ Association for settlement.

( 1) Term of agreement.—The miners -sked for the usual term of two rear 1 The owners are asking for n shortm'"rm of one vear, or, at most., eio-bfoo”