THE COAL MINERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1918, Page 2

THE COAL MINERS.

jTAT-ECUKXT OK OWNERS* POSITION. By Telegraph —Press Association. Wellington, July 25.. The reply of the Coal Jlinc-uv/nera' Association to the miners' statement routes at length the negotiations which lust year resulted in the miners accept ing an additional bonus of 10 per cent, to .shift, workers and ui par cent, to contractors for a tcim ol' three years or till sis mpnt-hs after the war. . This agreement is still operating'. Tho terms were refused by the Jliiter»' Federation representatives, but accepted- by the in« dividual unions, therefore the owners now feel justified in refusing to meet (iie federation representatives, whose prerut, attempt to disturb the existing bind.ng agreements and awards under which i!ie unions are working amicably indi' sites that the federation is still adopting the go-slow policy which led to the prosecution in Auckland last year. The Owners' Association is prepared at any time to meet representatives of the workers' national organisation when it ■ has demonstrated indubitably that .itsofficials have abandoned tho policy of creating industrial strife.. The employera opine that up. to July 10, when the Miners' Federation demanded a further 20 per cent, increase in pay, there.w&s no sign of dissatisfaction among tho miners, who were working well and giving a good output. Tho owners are thus con-1 fident that the workers have not originated the present dispute, therefore the I owners feel more strongly justified in refusing to meet the federation. The employers have made an offer to the miners' unions to pay an additional bonus of 5 per cent, to wages men and Wt per cent, to eontraefcovs and pieceworkers for working the full available time in any fortnight. The bonus is not applicable to any special contract for which tenders have been called. The federation representatives immediately instructed the unions to refuse this offer. Returns of wages show that if tlie full available time had been worked in 191-7-1918, no worker would have, earned less than £3 weekly, and it would have 'been possible to earn nearly £7 a week. The proposed additional hours would increase miners' earning power from 8a 7d to 23i 3d weekly and production could be increased 10 per cent., so that all essential requirements could be met and householders not put to the hardship of being fireIces, as iniany have beea during the present cold spell. Referring to ttis cost of living, the owners point out that the increase in this has been less in mining centres than elsewhere in the Dominion.