MINING CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 August 1919, Page 5

MINING CONFERENCE.

COMMITTEES REPORT ADOPTED. TROUBLE AT BLACKBALL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Tlie committee of seven, including the Government representative, set up yesterday by a conference of the Mineowners' Association and Miners' Federation, sat most of to-dny. The conference resumed shortly after 4 p.m., tmder the presidency of Mr. W. Ileece, to receive the committee's report, which was as follows: Tho committee recommends:— (1) That a committee of nine members from each side be appointed and empowered to discuss a complete working agreement for the coal mining industry of New Zealand on the lines of the present agreements, with such additionnl matter as the committee may consider necessary. (2) That the fullest and freest discussion shall be allowed in order that <i satisfactory agreement may bo arrived at on the lines suggested in, clause 1, (3) The agreement arrived at by the committee to be subject to ratiflration by the Mineowners' Association and by the Coal Miners' Federation. The report was adopted without' discussion. It was agreed that Mr. Reece should be chairman of the larger committee. Tha conference has adjourned sine die. It will probably meet to receive the report of this committee, but that may not be for some days. It understood gome little troublo occurred to-day on account of the men in the Blackball pit having adopted a "go slow" policy. It is understood the trouble was on account of the treatment by the management of a boy, posr.lbiy tho dismissal of the boy. The cause ot the complaint on the part of the owner.? v'as that the matter wan one which should have been referred to the Local Disputes Committees before any action Was taken by the men on the job. The difference was settled in the course of the day by the committee which was sitting.