MINING CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1919, Page 5

MINING CONFERENCE.

FEDERATION'S PROPOSALS. OBJECTIONABLE POINTS HELD OVER By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, August C. When the Mining Conference resumed to-day Mr Roberts, on behalf of tho men's delegates, said that Labor considered tho owners' so-called counterproposals submitted yesterday ' were merely camouflage of the-real position in view of the fact that they were unable to have access to the books and accounts of the owners. .

The Federation urged:— 1. That a Royal Commission be appointed to inquire into and report on the coal mining industry; the personnel of such commission to be two representatives of the owners and two of the Miners' Federation, with an independent chairman; the commission to be empowered to have access to and inspect ail books, documents, accounts, etc., of all mining companies, and examine witnesses and inspect mines and mining conditions generally. 2. That lis the offer made by the employers only suggests that an agreement be made in the light of labor conditions generally and the increased cost of living they failed to see how the suggestion contained in the employers' coun-ter-proposals (clause 1) would affect tho settlement of the dispute on lines suggested in clause 2.

3. The Federation agreed to discuss with the 9tate mine the question of miners' representation on the Board of Control. It further agreed that other owners should have, an opportunity of considering the proposal. However, they did not consider that question should prevent an industrial agreement at the present conference. 4. The coal question is of such vital importance that in the opinion of the Federation, the housing question and proper sanitary conditions at all mining towns was a work the Mining and Health Departments should undertake immediately. The offer of the coal owners in respect of loans for houses is entirely a Government question and could not be conceded by the owners. ft". The question of superannuation to be considered when the report of the Royal Commission was presented. • Mr Roberts said the counter-proposals contained nothing at all as fa"r as the industrial agreement was concerned. • The federation wanted the public to know tho true position. The workers could not agree that there would be a decrease in the output. The federation had considered the counter-proposals fully and had decided that they were not acceptable.

Mr O'Bourkc said he wanted to tell the owners cordially.that there was absolutely nothing in their proposals upon which they could cease their endeavor to heal the breach and get over the difficulty. The federation had no desire to see an upheaval, nor did they want to see the people starved for coal. They felt that .'iff the conditions were improved more men would engage in mining. .However, in order to bring about a satisfactory arrangement, they were prepared to hold over in the meantime the five points objected to in the hope that the owners would then be prepared to discuss the* remaining planks in the demand. If the owners did not accept the onus would be ou their heads. If an agreement was arrived at it was for the rank and file to say whether it was acceptable or not. An adjournment until-2, o'clock Xthie afternoon was Agreed ( to In order '4tbgive the owners an opportunity to" prepare a reply.

REPLY 1 BY THE O^N^ES. Wellington Last./ Night. When the Mining Conference"rammed at 3 p.m. the Hon. Alison Baid that during the adjournment the Federation proposals had been considered. The coal mine owners were unanimously of opinion that there was no justification for the appointment of the Royal Commission in view of the comprehensive report made by the Board of Tra'dc. While strongly holding the opinion that no further inquiry was called for, if such investigation should be made into matters connected with the industry, including the Federation's demands and the effect which the granting of these demands would have upon the industry, including the reduction of output, the increased cost of production, and the effect upon the communitv generally, the Association would be prepared to appoint an assessor or assessors if requested by the Government to do so. If investigations under the conditions suggested Were decided upon an adjournment of the conference would be necessary until the report was received. Failing that, if the Federation were: prepared definitely to withdraw tho six principal claims for the period for'which any agreement might be made the employers were prepared to discuss the,other clauses in the demands. The coal mine owners, therefore, submitted these proposals for consideration by the Federation:—

(1) That, in view of the Tceent exhaustive report of the Board of Trade, the Coal Owners' Association is of opinion that there is n'o necessity for the appointment of a Royal Commission as suggested by the Miners' Federation. (2) If, however, the Government decides to institute further Investigation and the whole of the Federation's demands are also inquired " intos and reported upon, if it is agreed that, pending tho report, the existing industrial agreements and awards should remain* in force, the Association will be prepared to appoint an assessor or assessors to represent it.

(3) Should the above proposals be agreed to it will he necessary to adjounv the conference until the report is received, as that report may involve such' changes as will have an important bearing on the rates of pay and working conditions in the mines. If, however, an investigation as suggested above is decided upon the employers are prepared to discuss the remaining Federation demands, if the six principal demands to which exception is taken by the coal mine owners aro definitely, and finally withdrawn until the expiration of the term of any agreement which may be entered into. A 'DEADLOCK GOT OVER. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. OTtourke said the miners' representatives had no power to withdraw wholly and solely the demands they suggested. Apparently the coal-owners were endeavoring for some reason to bring about a erisfe. ■> Mr, Bishop (State, Mines Department) asked what exactly was meant by the withdrawal of t*e demands a* referred to by Mr. O'Sourke. They were to be withdrawn for the time being. Be

the term "for toe time being." demands were suck as could not b*o^ J #B ceded, and it would not be jposiftle $0- g» go on with the discussion of the <rtfcflr':Sif| demands until they knew it wae Jj9 that these demands, which tin mine owners and State Department cwMJII not concede, would not be raited aga^,|l| Mr. O'Ronrke said the delegates bi4':|| no power to withdraw anything, Tk*t|jl proposals had been put in the lupdi $f ill the delegates by the unions, and were mandatory. What he had |l*« ■?■ posed on behalf of his colleagues wiiaf'ifi that these should be left in abeyance tMCsS. the time being. The remaining cUuati ,fi could bo token, and then the defetttfcaij could go back to the rank and file Ktd'H say: "Theso are tho answers of <s»-;! mine-owners to your proposals." ■ j/i Mr. Bishop asked whether the gates agreed to hold over those clanA Jf pending the report of the comnilaioft, - f Mr. Ollourke: Oh, nbl ■ j, Mr. Roberts said it would be «jhc toiidj nine months before the commisaion eoaw J9 report, and that would be too l«»Vg Iflf'v*l the miners to wait for redress, eeemfft *|j was not possible for the miners' Nprih fl sentntives to obtain the discussion (jfi'Sa the principal demands in the agreamest. Jj The representatives of the miners fcal, '% in order that the conference ahotdd fitf.'-j be abortive, asked that the ownere dfs4 '« cuns as many of the proposals at M#4 'f sible outside those to which, special |2* if ception had been taken. - The Hon. Alison said that In the ta6~ \ 4 demands of the Federation ta«r» fca4 m been six which the coal mine owwnk 4*" '% cided would be impossible. Tbegre#. $ effect of granting them would be ttW'-S every user of coal in the cofljrtry woaMi M be penalised 15s per ton. The «ffHn'l '■'% insisted on the withdrawal of theat for % possible clauses. If this ware doae toe M owners could proceed to discuss the we|- : ,«fl of the demands and endeavor to an to,'"'-l| an agreement. J 'fM Sir George Clifford made a nuna. "I tion that the term "royal commJiaJatf* rJ should not be insisted on in the miaO* "..'a proposal. He suggested the word atalM' -fl be "investigation." *| Mr. Roberts, while thanking Sir o»*l'J Clifford for his advice, said the miner* 3 could not accept an inquiry other than l a royal commission. "A 'Mr. T. S. Weston made a propoal, 1 on which he had, not consulted any of "j hi« colleagues, which was that a com-' « mittce of three members on each aide * should be set up to discuss the posai- 'i bility of going on with the consideration * of the demands other than tiose with- "'■'■'': drawn for the time being. $ Mr. Flavell supported Mr. Weatonli \ Disposal. The opposing representative " j had been discussing thk business for fj some days without getting much nearer ■ settlement, and he feared that if mom- } ♦tang such as Mr. Weston suggested '* were not done there was a danger that I the parties might not get together. '4 The conferences adjourned for ten A i minutes to consider the proposal. On resuming. Mr. Roberts said the '" 3 miners' representatives agreed to the 3 proposal, and that the members torepre- '1 sent them on tho committee be HeMra < 1 Arbuckle, O'Rourke, and himself 1 Mr. Bishop asked to be an extra mem- "1 her of the committee as represetrtuw the 'i Government and the State coalljSnee. If ITJim was agreed to. '.J Sir George Clifford said he would be '1 unable to act as chairman for the remamder of the conferenoe, but would ' ''' nominate Mr. W. Reese to bo his deimtr m the chair. f ,' This proposal was accepted by both parties. Sir George Clifford's services to " ' the conference ai chairman and hie impartiality and tact were eulogised bv both sides. ' '$ The conference adjourned onta. fan i mOiTow. -J