THE COAL TROUBLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1917, Page 4

THE COAL TROUBLE.

OWNERS' REPRESENTATIONS. DEMANDS OP FEDERATION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The president of the Coalowners' Af sociation denies the assertion that tlie coalowners declined to meet the Coal Miners' Federation in conference. On the contrary, he says, the employer* agreed from'the outset to hold a conference, provided that the Federation! which, was seeking to alter the system from local awards, as between local ' unions and local owners, to a Dominion award, should first formulate definitely its demands respecting each mine. Tliev intimated on January 24 that a conference could be arranged within fourteen days of the receipt of tlia Federation's demands. These demands reached the Association on February 10, and a conference was at once arranged for February 21. The Federation asks for an increase of 17i per cent, on the • present rates; for miners working on tonnage rates, who nre unable to oarn an average of 14b Id per shift, to liavo their pay brought up to that amount; for an idle day on Saturdays; for wage* to be paid weekly on Fridays ineteftd of fortnightly; for free household coal instead of coal at cost, and a number of other alterations of the, working conditions, which the employers state will materially increase the cost of hewinfi