COAL INQUIRY.

Taihape Daily Times, 12 September 1918, Page 4

COAL INQUIRY.

TERMS OF REFERENCE. WELLINGTON, Sept 10. The Minister of Mines has announced that the order of reference for the Board of Trade's inquiry into the coalmining industry is as follows: (1) Present cost of production and distribution of cOal in New Zealand.

(2) Any increases in thr? cost of production or distribution since the commencement of the present war and the causes of the increases.

(3) Whether the profits made in the production and distribution of coal are fair and reasonable.

(4) Whether the selling prices of coal are fair and reasonable.

(5) Whether increased economy or efficiency can be obtained in the production and distribution of coal, and, if so, in what respects and in what manner.

(6) All other matters affecting thesupply or price of coal. (7) Increases since 'the commencement of the present war in the cost of living, so far as they affect the men engaged in the production of coal, distinguishing between increases, if any,, prior to and subsequent to the industrial agreements made in the coal industry in 1917.

(8) Increases since the commencement of the present war in the earnings of the men engaged in the production of coal, distinguishing between the increases, if any, prior to'■» and subsequent to the industrial';"' agreements, f ' OWNERS AND MINERS MEET. WELLINGTON, Sept 10. The conference between representafi tives of the Coal Mine Owners' Assoelation and the Miners' Federation, concerning the demand of the coal--. miners for increased wages, opened this morning, and continued all day. No announcement regarding the work of the conference will be made until " it is closed.