COAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1932, Page 5

COAL CONFERENCE

NO DECISION

MEN TO BALLOT ON TERMS.

(Per Press Association — Copyright.)

AUCKLAND, Juno 30

After sitting for iliree days, the con-

ference between the Northern Coal Min> Owners’ Association and the Northern Miners’ Union came-to an end at 4.30 p.m. to-day, without (reaching a mutual decision.

! The representatives of the various Waikalo unions are Messrs Roberts and D. Partis (Rotowaro), A. Robinson and W. Hodge (Pukemiro), T. Rougher and A. Webster (Glen Aftou), G. Green and R. Crump '(MacDonald), and T. Stephenson and A. McKay (.Renown). Th© Hikurangi delegates will be Messrs C. A. Latham and T. Lu.nn. The .Secretary of the Northern Miners’ District Council, Mr W. Davison, and Mr MpLagan will also attend the conference.

The miners’ delegates will return to Huntly iii the morning with the owners’ final terms, which will be submitted to the men for their approval or rejection by ballot.

The result of th© baillot is expected to be known on .Saturday night. Prior to the re-opening of th© tbtti'erenoe to-day, the miners' delegates niet to consider certain amended terms offered hy thp coal owners. They reported their decision to the owners at 11 a.m., intimating, it is understood, their willingness to aocept some of the clauses, but offering counter proposals with respect to the. remainder.

The coal owners met separately at 2 p.m. to consider the miners’ counter proposals. Ais 3 p.m., when both of tiie parties came finally together, the owners presented what they termed their final offer, which, they requested,® should be submitted to the Miners’ Unions at the earliest moment.

In respons e to the coal owners’ request, the men’s delegates agreed to submit the final terms to a ballot of the members of th e District Union, and to give the owners an answer to-mor-row night.

The men’s delegates will proceed to Huntly in the morning, and, on their arrival, a. meeting of the Huntly miners will b.e held to hear the delegates’ report and to receive the coal owners’ amended terms.

Similar meetings will be held at the mines on Saturday,- - a ballot being taken in each cape. Mr A. McLagen, the National Secretary of the United Mine Workers’ Union, will accompany the men’s deiet M M t* ’ t , ... gates to Huntly, instead of returning to Wellington. At the conclusion of the conference, the Hikurangi coal owners and miners’ delegates held a separate meeting to consider special clauses relating particularly to the conditions pertaining to shaft mining as distinct from drive mining, the character of the Hikurangi and Huntly mines differing in that respect. This meeting concluded at 6 p.m,

A ballot wili Ee held at Hikurangi on the main issues, similar to that to be taken at -Huntly.

o:i e of the clauses that is included in the owners’ final terms is that it is intended to give the mine managers the unrestricted right to engage and dismiss men. In its final form, this clause, which is one of the principal bones of contention, appears in a slightly amended form, the word “unrestricted” being replaced by “absolute,”- so that the clause now reads: "The manager of every mine shall have tire absolute right to engage and discharge men at his own discretion.”