PREMIER AND LABOUR LEADERS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17121, 16 April 1921, Page 9

PREMIER AND LABOUR LEADERS.

TWO SIDES OF THE DISPUTE. (Australian «pd N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received' April loth, 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, April 11. The men's leaders interviewed' Mr Llovd George, who sirongly appealed to l 110 railway and transport leaders to oxercise restraint, and not precipitate a crisis. He said the Government was not prepared to ma*ke further concessions. • The leaders, in replying, said they were unable to advance new arguments or concede any point. Mr 11. Gosling stated that the transport workers, having got a national basis of pay, could not desert the miners, who were standing for a similar principle. Mr Lloyd George told the Labour leaders that "when the miners are willing to sit at the table with the owners ■ and the Government to consider the amount of wages tho mines can pay, we shall bo willing to resume negotiations.'' Tho question of State control was a ifolitical one, and must be dccid- ' ed by political methods, not by strikes. He asked them not to commit themselves to what was equivalent to direct action by seeking to overawe Parliament bv threatening to paralise tho whole life of tho community. A MIDNIGHT CONFERENCE: I MINERS, OWNERS, AND M.P.'S. ' » .. ' | (Received- April loth, 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, April 15. [ As the outcomo of unofficial intervention by members of the House' of Commons, tho coal-owners at midnight invited tho miners to discuss means to improve the lot of the lower-paid workers. After a conference a, deputation of mombera of the House of Commons roused Mr Lloyd George in the small hours of the morning at No. 10 Downing street, and conveyed to him the result of, the discussions. , It is understood tho miners will meet the owners and discuss tho question of ' wages only. 5 At the joint conference, Mr Hodges' II announcement of the miners' willingness > to discuss wages alone was a dramatic 1 turning-point in the situation. The members of tho House of Commons, the great bulk of whom were Coalitionists, saw immediately tho importance of tihis statement, and 6eized the opportunity of turning it to .good advantage speedJ ily; hence the extraordinary rapidity of. tho midnight developments. ' Pessimists point out that, tho Miners' Federation previously rejected a similar ■ proposal to. that of Mr Hodges, and are : asking whether tiii-e miners are retreating, or whether Mr Hodges spoke withJ out authority. ' ~ • MINERS' WAGES PROBLEM. [ A HOPE or SETTLEMENT. | . ("Tli® Tim«»."l I (Received April 16th, 12.10. a.m.) LONDOiV, April 16. "The Times" states that edly a hope of settlement comes from two quarters. Mr F-. Hodges, jsecretaty of tho Miners' Federation, addressing a crowded meeting of members of the House of Commons, stated that the miners were prepared to discuss, the question, of wages separately and immediately, provided the proceedings were not regarded as part of the terms of a permanent settlement—in other words, the Federa- . t'ion was ready to make a temporary ' -settlement of the wages basis question without prejudice to the larger claims t -for a national, wages agreement and a national pool.' ( • -. - . Independently of this offer, the coal-, - owners offered to meet the miner's' leaders and discuss.the broad question \ of wages. _ The owners offered to fore- ' go any immediate return and hold monthly meetings to discuss wages. ■ FEEDING THE COUNTRY. SIGNIFICANT GOVERNMENT PREPARATIONS. ~ (Australian, and N.Z. - Cable Association.! [ .(Received April "16th, 12.30 a.m.) . • LONDON, April. 14. ( The problem of feeding the country ■ must be solved by improvised methods ' of distribution, as no return to compulsory rationing is possible, because . the departmental machinery no longer . exists. > , The Government is doing its best to cut down the public consumption of coal. It is announced to-day that it will bo impbsibie to obtain! any coal for domestic use without a permit signed by the local authority. In any case a householder will only be Allowed Jcwt of coal a week. In order to assist.the local, authorities in their work, Mr Lloyd George has arranged that a member of the Government shall proceed as a Civil Commissioner to each of the districts into which England and Wales have been divided imder the .emergencyscheme. Thus the. Earl of Lytton will control the Northern district with his headquarters at Preston (Lan-, cashire), while Col. G. IX Murray, B'olicitor-General for Scotland, has charge of the staff in Scotland. So far the Government has not dis- , closed its plan of campaign, preferring to await the beginning.of tno strike, and give every opportunity for a peace move-. Already it is evident that the machinery for feeding tho country is getting into order. ' In addition to Kensington Gardens nn<] Regent's Park, the Government, has taken over Hyde Park, and is erecting tents . and hutments. At M-ofble Arch, Hyde Park will be devoted to .a milk camp. Great convoys of- Government motor lorries are gathering in the parks, and these, will be further increased by the latest Government proclamation commandeering all horse and motor vehicles and drivers. Volunteers in large numbers,_ including many women driving their own ' cars, are offering their services, < The London taxi-cabs will continue to ply, for hire, but the union advises members they must only carry passengers, and not merchandise. A MESSAGE FROM RUSSIA. (Received April 16th, 1.45 a.m.) ■ MOSCOW, April 14. The Russian Miners' Union telegraphed to the British miners: "We are following with strained attention your struggle, w]ji?h. has taken lhe form of a decisive class war against tlhe bourgeoisie. Long live the solidarity of the workers of the world."