COAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1932, Page 5

COAL CONFERENCE

OPENED YESTERDAY

OWNERS’ TERMS DISCUSSED

(Per Press Association— Copyright.)

AUCKLAND, June 28

The conference between the Northern Coal Mine Owners’ Association and the Northern M.ners’ Union was opened in Auckland .this morning.

After ’sitting' all day, the proceedings were adjourned until to-morrow. . .The representatives of the owners .wjio attended were directo.s of. the Taupiri, Renown, Pukcan.ro, Glen Afton and Hikurangi .companies. They were presided over bv Mr W. D. Holgate, the President of the X.Z. Coni Mine Owners’ Ascotiation.

T,he miners’ delegates were presided ov.er by Mr T. Rougher, of Glen Afton. jvjio has been elected as President of the Northern Miners’ Union.

• Messm T. 0. Bishop (Secretary of the, X.Z. Coal Mine Owners’ A:i:;o-cia-tipn) and A. McLagan (Secretary of idle- United Mine Workers’ Union) .were also present.

, (.The proceedings were confined to a discussion of the mine owners’ terms, as. these originally were presented to 'miners’ delegates at the first Northern Conference, on May 6th, Out of the 39 clauses which these terms contain, 34 were tentatively dealt with.

The greater part of the proceedings to-morrow will be devoted to the discussion of the miners’ counter proposals . 1( - ’ It is probable that'both sides wifi then' consider the proposals and the counter proposals among themselves, with a view to coming to- -an agreement, after which a final sitting, will be held to deal with any points over which a' disagreement may exist.