LABOR TROUBLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 March 1917, Page 5

LABOR TROUBLES.

MINERS' DEMANDS REFUSED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, March I. Tho coal mine. owners have issued a statement concerning their conference with the coal workers. They state that tjje Workers' Federation pressed for a Dominion agreement, which included seventeen claims applying to all mines. These included 17* per cent, increase on the present rates of pay, and drastic alterations in working conditions. Six representations for each side were appointed to confer on Monday. The federation submitted amended claims which did not modify the demand for increase of pay. The amended claims were considered and rejected by the owners, who submitted counter proposals which offered a war bonus of 5 per cent, to coal hewers and truckers working on contract and 7'/s per cent, to wages niAi. These concessions, it was estimated, would absorb between £35,000 and £40,000 per annum. The federation intimated that it could not accept the owners' proposals, but would submit them to the unions, which they felt sure would support the decision. If accepted, these increases would make the total war bonus Hi per cent, to coal hewers and truckers working on contract, and 171 per cent to wages men on pre-war rates. As coaH mining is not generally prof/t----able, any increases must be passed on to the public, meaning an increase in the cost of household coal of from 4 s to 5s per ton.