THE COAL MINES.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1919, Page 5

THE COAL MINES.

THE WELLINGTON CONFERENCE, | NO SETTLEMENT REACHED. | By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The conference which has been sitting for a fortnight on the coal miners' dispute ended to-day without making a settlement. On Saturday the coalowners made an oder to the Miners' Federation representatives of a 10 per cent, increase to contract workers, who are chiefly miners working on coal at the face, and 15 per cent, to shift wages men, the percentages to bo on pre-war rates and payable as increased bonus. To this offer the Federation replied yesterday with a set of counterproposals, In these they asked the " same wages for all mine-workers other than face men as they had asked in the first instance for faee workers, and for others not specified they asked an increase of 25 per cent, in the rates, the same to be permanent additions to the wages and not payable by way of bonus. The coal-owners replied to-day that they could not increase the first offer. An appeal was made by the Hon. Alison, on behalf of the coal-owners, to the Federation to recommend the unions to accept the offer and to remain at work, in view of the very serious position of the country through lack of coal at present.

The Federation representatives withdrew to consider the matter, but on return informed the owners that they couM not recommend the unions to accept. They then left the room and the conference ended.