COAL CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1921, Page 5

COAL CRISIS.

NO IMPORTANT CHANGE PREMIER SEEKS SETTLEMENT. REPORT OEJ “GO-SLOW” STARTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In connection with the Blackball trouble, the Prime Minister, as Minister of Mines, presided to-day at a conference of mine-owners and representatives of the miners. Afterwards Mr. Massey said the conference arrived at no decision, but he had made suggestions to the delegates with a view to reaching a settlement. The suggestions had to be referred by the representatives of both sides to their principals, so he could not know f<r some whether they were accepted. At the present stage it would not be wise to indicate the nature of the suggestions. (By Wire.—Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. Representatives of the miners and the mine-owners met the Prime Minister today, and discussed with him the dispute regarding the alleged victimisation of the two miners at Blackball. Mr. Massey suggested that it was not reasonable to involve the whole Dominion in a local and personal dispute, and he proposed a further conference between the parties. It is likely that something of the kind will be arranged. The Miners’ Unions have been holding stop-work meetings to-day and are preparing for a resumption of the “go-slow” policy if their executive so orders. GO-SLOW STARTED. REPORTED IN THE WAIKATO. Auckland, Last Night. It is reported that the miners employed at the Pukemiro, Rotorwaru, and Taupiri Extended mines have adopted the “go-slow” policy, the men undertaking not to earn more than 19s 2d per day, the minimum fixed by the national agreement of February last.