THE COAL STRIKE.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 26 April 1917, Page 5

THE COAL STRIKE.

TERMS OF SETTLEMENT. EXEMPTION OF MINERS.

NO RESTRICTION ON OUTPUT

NO GO SLOW FINES

WELLINGTON, April 24

The following telegram, covering the proposed terms of settlement said to have been submitted to all the miners' unions on strike, was read by Mr H. E. Holland at a meeting of abour candidates for the City Council to-night:— (1) It is to be made plain to the Military Service Boards that every essential worker in essential industries, in coal and gold mining, shall have their appeals allowed. (2) The Government will not press for penalties in the cases of men arrested on account of the "go slow" policy, including everyone conveying messages to one union by direction of another in connection with the present strike. .(3) The Government will do its best to arrange a conference between mine owners and the employees within a fortnight. (i) Every man to go back to work as before strike. (5) 'The delegates undertake to

do their best to induce the men to resume work on April 25 and abandon the "go slow" policy. ((!) If any proceedings take place the Government will not press for penalties. - Mr Holland states that the voting figures on the proposal to return to work were: —State Mine: For, 136; against, 85. Blackball: For, 116; against 85. Roa: For. 4; against, 30. Millerton; For, 194; against, 4. Stockton: For, 92; against, 14. Denniston was unanimous in favour of resuming.

All unions, he stated, would resume work on Wednesda\ r .

CONFERENCE TO BE HELD

TO SETTLE MINOR DIFFERENCES

WELLINGTON. April 24

'Though the coal situation is now much ca§ier, it cannot safely be said that all prospect of trouble is over, for the men ha,ve other grievances besides those that they chose to put forward as the sole cause of the strike. An early conference between the miners and the employers to consider these is reported likely, and it depends on the result of this important gathering whether New Zealand is to be saved from the continuance of this disastrous conflict.

Tlie Railway Department, owing to circumstances explained in a previous message, is unlikely to increase its service until may 6, when the war schedule will prevail. The Southern ferry steamer Maori is still laid up until fresh supplies arrive, and a number of coastal vessels are also awaiting coal to resume running. The Wellington tram service will not be placed on normal lines until coal supplies are absolutely assured.

RANGITIKEI CO-OPERATIVE SAW-

MILLERS ASSOCIATION. AN IMPORTANT" MEETING. At a full and representative meeting of Sawmillers held in Taihape yesterday, the following resolution was unanimously carried: —"That in the opinion of this meeting,, every effort should be made by sawmillcrs,in the interests of their customers and employees, to keep the mills running in spite of the strike of coal miners and the consequent dislocation of Railway traffic, but if the Railway Department connot resume the carriage of timber within the next few days, the closing of the Mills must necessarily follow. The Manager, Mr M. M. Carpenter, despatched the following telegram to the Minister of Railways:—"As it is understood the strike is now off, will you resume the carriage of timber immediatcly, if not. when? A meeting of Sawmillers is being held to consider the closing down of mills. This we wish to avoid, as it will throw hundreds out of employment. Kindly send prompt reply." A reply from the Minister came later in the day, and is as follows:—"In reply to your telegram of to-day, I regret that I cannot say when the normal Railway Service will be resumed, as Department must wait till it has sufficient coal in hand or in sight. Am hoping *to lift embargo of some elnsset of goods perhaps next Aveek, b"t cannot say at present when timb er will be carried. 'A great deal depends on the output of coal."