DISPUTE IN COAL INDUSTRY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20098, 29 November 1930, Page 15

DISPUTE IN COAL INDUSTRY.

STOPPAGE MAY BE AVERTED. j THE MARKETING SCHEME. (BRITISH OFFICIAL tVIttELESSj (Received November 28th, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, November 27. It is widely anticipated here that tlio threat of a coal stoppage next week in the South Wales and Scottish areas will be averted. Both sides in the dispute are stated to bo hopeful of an immediate solution of the problem in South Wales. The National Wages Board will to-day hear an appeal from this urea, where the owners have posted notices of wage reductions to take effect on Monday. A miners' delegate conference will be held tomorrow, and it is suggested in some quarters that it will be asked to consider a proposal to acquiesce in the spread-over of hours, and of tho postponement of tho shorter working day until the marketing schemes are in operation. Meanwhile the Central Council controlling tho coal marketing scheme, on which tho coalowners of every producing district are represented, has met to determine tho tonnage of production which is to bo allocated to everv district for the first quarter of 1931. It decided, in view of the reduced demand for coal, that figures of the maximum output to be produced in tho various districts must bo drastically reduced below thoso of the corresponding period of tho present year. 1 licse figures are being communicated to the District Executive Boards so that the allocations can bo made by them among the individual collieries. An agreement was reached without recourse to tho arbitration proceduro which tho scheme provides. Minors in several coal districts, including Cumberland and North Wales, have agreed on tho spread-over scheme and tho Lancashire men are holding a ballot on tho question tomorrow.