THE COAL DISPUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 January 1921, Page 5

THE COAL DISPUTE.

NO AGREEMENT YET, GO-SLOW BEING CONTINUED. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. Representatives of the Mine-owners’ Association and the Miners’ Federation conferred with the Prime Minister Regarding the coal dispute, but no agreement was reached. The point at issue is the selection of a chairman for the committee proposed by the Prime Minister. This committee, consisting of two representatives of each side, is to consider the alleged victimisation of the man Henderson at the Blackball mine, and it is to have power to make a settlement. The go-slow policy, in the meantime, is being continued at the mines. It is understood that the miners are asking for the appointment of Mr. P. Hally as chairman. , The agreement under which the coal- : miners are working throughout New Zealand expires at the end of next month. The miners have not yet presented their new demands, but is is anticipated that, following the example of the Australian miners, they will claim a five-day week. The present dispute, arising from a very trifling matter, is i having the effect of cutting down the I scanty coal stocks, and may be regardI ed as placing the miners in a better ; strategic position to press the demands they will be making shortly. NORTHERN MINES. ONE ABANDONS GO-SLOW. J ' By Telegraph —Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. j The workers in the Kiripaka mine of the Northern £oal Company appear to I have abandoned the go-slow policy. The I liquidator (Colonel Holgate) met the ; men yesterday at the mine, and they agreed to produce over 100 tons of coal a day, and in the meantime to refer the go-slow issue to the'Miners’ Federation for its decision. For the time being the output of this mine will therefore be about normal . Later. The liquidator of the Kiripaka mine denied to-night the statement that the go-slow policy had been abandoned at the mine. “I met the men, that is all,” he said.