THE COAL QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1919, Page 5

THE COAL QUESTION.

EMPLOYES' OFFER. ACCEPTANCE IMPOSSIBLE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The secretary of the Miners' Federation, Mr. J. Arbuckle, said to-day that so far as his organisation was concerned, there was 110 prospect of a settlement of the dispute with the mine owners. Certainly, he said, there would be no settlement on the basis proposed by the employers, for the conditions of the offer were such as to make acceptance impossible from the point of view of the miners.

NEXT MOVE FROM THE MINERS. (Prom Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, August 12. The parties to the Coal Conference have presented their cases to the Government already, and the matter has been before Cabinet. The Government as far as can be gathered, does not con • aider that it could ask the mine owners to make any better offer than they have made already, and in these circumstances it will not at present attempi to bring the parties together again. The Minister for Mines would be prepared to preside at a conference if any good purpose could be served by further discussions, and he will he ready to act later if the occasion arises. The next move is with the miners. The miners' delegates state this evening that they will report to the unions in the several districts, and that the unions will decide the future course of action. The mine owners appear to be quite firm in their attitude. They state that under the existing agreement, which has not yet expired; the miners are able to make better wages than are paid in other skilled, industries. The offer that was made would have placed the mincis in an even better position. The owners are determined that they will not, accept demands that would impose an enormous additional burden upon the whole community by greatly increasing the price of coal. What the miners will do remains to be seen. Past experience suggests that they may go slow. If they do there may be important developments quickly.

FACILITATING TRANSPORT, Westport. Last Night. The Westport Borough Council tonight resolved to extend to Hon, A. M. Myers nn invitation to visit Westport nnd gain for himself first-hand information concerning the coal business on the must. It was mentioned that Burlcy Bros., whose coal mine is in the Buller r;orpn, had been asked to supply coal for a Reefton firm to send to Christchurch. This means carting coal six miles In the railhead of the. Inangahua Junction, railing from there to Reofton, a distance of 21 n'iles on an up grade, railing from Reefton to Greymoutli, a distance of 38 miles, -fey- re-sending to Ohristehuroh, yet Hurley*' mine is only !?n miles from Weitport. ivith six miles of rails laid, and only Id. more required with formation to link up the field with Westport. Tt ven* regarded as another illustration of folly in not completing the gitp in the Buller Gorge railway. The saving to Ohristchurch in the order mentioned wmild he 35 miles by railway and another 50 by sea. .