NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 31 August 1918, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

THE COAL CRISIS. OWNERSAGREfe TO CONFERENCE WELLINGTON, Aug. 30. The coalowners'have agreed to meet the men in conference, and a reply from the miners is expected this evening. It is understood that one of the conditions is that the men shall. resume work at once. WESTPORT, Aug. 30. Apparently the Millerton miners are stubborn for the 20 per cent, increase, of wages. At a ballot this morning, by 125 votes to 53 they decided not to return to work. Other Buller district mines are working. Mr Semple left for the South this morning, enroute for Wellington. M. Semple, in a statement to the "Times" this morning, said that the officers of the Federation, acting for the miners in Wellington, had extracted two proposals from the Government Firstly, a Commission, and if the Commission, were refused by the employers they guaranteed, secondly, a conference, without committing the men to the other proposal. The miners' representatives have agreed to the request and all unions, including those idle, will return to work during the negotiations. The Blackball, Roa and Millerton unions disagree with the proposals to return to work. Mr Semple has no infomation as to the attitude of the northern miners, but none were on strike yesterday morning. On his return from Wellington he received a memo, from the Minister of Mines informing him that the Government had arranged .a. conference forthwith, conditionally that the men returned to work while the conference was proceeding. Mr Semple said it will thus be seen that the miners have won out on the question of the recognition of their organisation, and are to meet the owners at a round-table conference. It is for those miners who are out on strike to say if they will return to work and allow the conference to proceed. If the employers are at all libefraL the raatafcrs' rfeqiuest. Sor 20 per cent, increase will be granted without delay. If not, the position will again bo in the miner's hands.