THE COAL CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1921, Page 5

THE COAL CONFERENCE.

AN UNFINISHED DISCUSSION. MINERS STAND BY DEMANDS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, April 16. The coal conference resumed to-day. Mr. Kimbell put in further figures showing that at the Wellington’depot coal sold within the city limits at 60s a ton, though it actually cost 61s I 3-sd. At Christchurch depot the actual cost was 57s 1.78 d, and z the price to the consumer was 60s, or 3s a cwt. delivered. At Wanganui the cost delivered to the consumer was 65s 9.5i1d, and the price obtained -as 655. Mr. Reece said Mr. Arbuckle knew very well that the increased price of the coal was due to the increase in labor costs in all directions. Owners did not blame the miners solely.

Mr. Arbuckle: Js it not a fact that during a great deal of the year The State coal depots were empty and staffs were paid while idle? The chairman:' Yes, that it so. State coal Was subject to control. We had to send coal where we were told. Much of it went to gas works. If we had had more coal our results would have been better. Mr. Balderstone drew attention to the excessive cost of transport. It practically cost twice as much as to get the coal out of the mines. The cost on trucks at Grey mouth was 13s 0.62 d. Cartage at Wellington and yard labor cost 22s a ton, as much as the cost f.o.b. Grey mouth. Mr. Arbuckle said the Union S.S. Company was getting 100 per cent, increase on its freight, and the owners would not give an increase to the miners who were only getting 50 per cent, increase on the tannage rates.Mr. Balderstone said the public ought to kn’ow that the miners were not responsible for the increase in the price of coal.

Mr. Arbuckle emphasised that the State Department’s expenses were greater than those of a private company. Yet coal from the latter’s mines sold for between 15s and 18s more per ton than from the State mine.

Mr. O’Brien said interest, depreciation, profits and dividends were not fair charges for capital if they were not fair for labor. No depreciation was allowed for the miner.

Mr. Reece replied that capital must bear interest, and allowance must be made for brain.

Mr. O’Brien answered that if body or brain served in production they should be rewarded. It was the people who did no work but drew money to whom Labor objected. After further interchanges, Mr. O’Rourke said the miners* wanted a definite statement as to whether the owners were prepared to grant their demands.

Mr. Arbuckle said it was up to the owners to show why they could not afford to give the miners a better share. In reply to Mr. Reece, Mr. O’Rourke said the miners would stand by the whole of their demands.

The conference then adjourned till