MINERS’ DISPUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1921, Page 5

MINERS’ DISPUTE.

SETTLEMENT REACHED. RECOGNITION OF THE COURT. NEW AWARDS TO BE MADE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A settlement, in which the Miners’ Federation has practically recognised the Arbitration Court, has been arrived at between the federation and the Coal Mine Owners’ Association. The federation’s policy in completely ignoring the proceedings instituted by the owners under the terms of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act seemed likely to end in a deadlock, but with an apparent desire to avoid this Messrs. Davidson and O’Rourke, president and secretary respectively of the Miners’ Federation, some weeks ago entered into negotiations with the representatives of the owners (Messrs. Pryor and Bishop). The latter expressed a determination not to depart from the original policy of the reference of disputes to the Arbitration Court. However, a compromise was effected providing: (1) District conferences; (2) the intervention of the Conciliation Commissioner; (3) the reference of unsettled points to the Arbitration Court.

The majority of the unions have now accepted the agreement, the most significant point of which is the reference to the Arbitration Court of the full terms of settlement, stated as follow: (1) A conference shall be held in each district between the representatives of the local unions, the local companies and of the Miners’ Federation and Coal Owners’ Association.

(2) If any points are not agreed upon at any such conference the Conciliation. Commissioner shall be asked to attend and endeavor to bring the parties to an agreement, and, failing an agreement being reached before the Commissioner, any remaining points in dispute to be referred to the Arbitration Court.

District conferences are likely to start very soon, as both sides are anxious to have the terms of the new agreements settled. By its action the Miners’ Federation has abandoned its demand for a national agreement, such as that in existence to-day. It is likely that discussion will centre on the claims filed by the mineowners. These do not suggest any drastic reduction in the rates of pay; in fact, it is understood that the miners propose that the hewing rates shall be unaltered.