THE COAL CRISIS.

Taihape Daily Times, 22 August 1919, Page 3

THE COAL CRISIS.

OWNERS REPLY TO MINERS. THE GUARANTEE WAGE QUESTION. WELLINGTON, Aug. 20. . In a letter forwarded to the Prime Minister yesterday the coal mine 0“'1101'S’ “Ply to statements by 1-epresen-tatives of the Alliance of Labour at Saturday’s depntatilon, The Owne’-1.5 state that it was shown at the recent conference that it would be impraC_ ticable to frame conditions for 3 national agreement. The owners “VOSO prepared to decide upon a percentage increase in wages, local conditions. to be settled individfially. Objections to discussing «new conditions in: nfines where the present agreement is in force until six monthsiafter the duration of the War had been varied, except in the case of the Kiripaka, Pukemiro, Waipa, Nightcaps, and probably the Green Island mines where the agreements remaifn in force until six -months after the declaration of peace. In regard to the demand for wages equivalent to prewan‘ days, it is subinitted that the Government Statistician ’s figures show the following increases for the Dominion: Three food groups,‘4l.2(i per cent; food and rent, 24.91 per cent; and for Greymouth, 32.9 per cent and 23.74: per cent. respectively. These. fifigures show, but it is wrong to suggest, that the in--55 per cent, and that the owners’ oifer of a total increase of 45 per cent over pre-war rates is more than provided for. A wage equivalent to trucking by miners is not equivalent. to New Z’.-aland. Regarding the assertion that the average earned at Point Elizabeth State mine is 24/3 per shift, and at the Liverpool mine 20/7, the own'ers

state: “The Miners Federation representatives a.-I'c aware that owing to special circumstances operating at Point Elizabeth mine the average rate earned during recent months has been higher -than would otherwise have been the case.” The miners”demand for a minimum Wage is really a demand for a guarantee Wage; in other words, it is de.si'rdd¢ that peaee~work‘ers -should be guaranteed a certain -wage, no m:vtt--how little work they niig-ht.dlo~. The proposal is definfied as an insidious attempt to secure the abolition of the contract system, as with the high minimum rate. demanded (18,/) it is probable‘ that many miners will be content to Work slowly and accept a guarantee wage.

Under the head of “nationalisation of the industry,’ the lowners state that, taking into consideration the claims made. by the Fedcirations, and also the last proposal at the conference, and the attitudoof the deputation, it is evident to the coal mine owners that the present’ demands indicate a very ‘determined attempt to make coalmining so unprofitable as to cause the mines under private ownership to close down, and thus compel the Grovernment to consider nationalis'a'tion of the mine. Indeed, it was clearly stated by the deputation it it is the only solution. That being the case, it appears to be futile for enipleyers to endeavour to protect the interests of the commuiiity generally.