THE COAL DISPUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1920, Page 5

THE COAL DISPUTE.

THE NEX.T MOVE BY THE GOVERNMENT, (From Our Own Correspondent). j Wellington, Feb. ii. The coal dispute has shown no development recently. The statement issued by the mine-owners really breaks no fresh grounfl, and it is not in the least likely to jbe regarded by the Miners' Federation; or the Alliance of Labor as a basis of Settlement. The secretary of the Miners' Federation stated that he had not received any communication on the subject from the mine-owners, and I in the meantime he had nothing of im- ' to say on the subject. The ifext move is practically certain to come! from the Government. It probalblv wjll take the form of another attempt jto bring the parties together, but Mr, M;issey has not yet indicated what his lijie of action will be. The coal shortage, in the meantime, is becoming no less acute. The Government has reason to know that if supplies do not increase soon, the situation during the coming winter will be very acute indeed. j OTHER TROUBLES. T/he conference that is considering the demands made by the Seamen' 3 Union is stijll holding meetings, without making myieh progress towards a settlement. The pairties are reticent, but they admit that tfe. y have a long way to go yet before '•they reach agreement. The gap between /what the seamen are demanding and what the employers think a fair thing is very wide. The watersiders' dispute, which is being discussed with evident inside knowledge by thfr Welfare League, has not yet made any progress at all The Waterside Workers' Federation recently presented its demands to the employers, with the endorsement "Confidential." These are the demands that are being reviewed by the Welfare League. The employers of waterside labor in Wellington have not made any move in the matter yet. They will meet shortly and decide upon a reply to the Federation, whish has aiked for * eesfanaSfc