THE COAL TROUBLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1920, Page 4

THE COAL TROUBLE.

k'O STOP-WORK MEETINGS. A HOPEFUL , SIGN. By Teletrnph.—Press Association, Wellington, Last Night, No announcement was made to-day a«| to whether the coal-miners are .to agrea to a sitting of the Disputes Committee, but the stop-work meeting* were not held. *

j Stop-work meetings were to haVe ; been held yesterday by the man of all j the coal-mines in New Zealand, to eoft> aider the following four iisuas: I (1) Whether to accept, the mint* ! owners' terms. j (2) Whether the Federation stall anee the Pukemiro Union. (3) Whether the mine shall fo .de-i clared "black". (4) Whether all the unions shall fight' the matter out by united.}action, LATEST PROM PUKEMIKO. *< UNION DieOUSBISp J)I8PUTl:. Auckland, Last Nljjit. The dispute between 'the Pukfßlira Company and the miners was distfUied at a meeting of the Union Mr. pally (acting-chairman of the NatiMal Disputes Commiteee) attended, and at' his suggestion certain proposals Ware made to the company. A further meeting of the Union Will be held, to-morrow, when it is anticipated that the owner*' reply will have, I been received--1 Interviewed, Mr. Hally said that in,Us opinion the parties woilld be Well idvised to accept the proposal made by him. The only substantial point Ift the dispute was the question of th» eil(ttedrivers, and this reqilirefl mo»t careful handling. <» ' When asked whether the miners, M a matter of policy, were endeavouring to humbug the mine-owners, inasmuch as they had failed to attend a meeting of the National Disputes called for last week, Mr. Hally said emphatically "No." The men, he said, Were anxious to meet the employer*, inrt a number of circumstances had arisen which 'made their attendance at the meeting impossible at the date find. No one could have been more disappointed than the Pukemiro miners wnea the negotiations were broken off. Mr. Hnlly's proposal hat been* referred liv the company to the Coal-mine Owners' Association.

NEGOTIATIONS AT PtklMJtO. Wellington, Oct. 13. Negotiations between Mr. Httlly and the Pukemiro 'representatives reaulttd in the miners being recommended.'to fMume work and allow the matters at iittte to be referred to the National Diiputes Committee. A circular has been fiqpt out at th» suggestion of Mr. Massey to the union* throughout the country, urging a foatponement of the stop-work meeting! fixed for to-day, pending further di»4us»ion. FARMERS' UNIOFSUGGSSKON. Auckland, Oct. 13. The executive of the Auckland Provincial Farmers' Union unanimously passed ft resolution that the oltuse in the Mining Act preventing the, use of frot llbor in coal mints should b* repealed, With a view to overcoming the present polition in the industry.