STRIKE PROPOSAL DEFEATED.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20104, 6 December 1930, Page 17

STRIKE PROPOSAL DEFEATED.

BRITISH MINERS' VOTE. MEETING WITH CABINET MINISTERS. (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, December 5. The National Conference of the Miners' Federation decided to-day against a national coal strike, by 230,000 votes to 209,000. Districts .representing about 100,000 men abstained from voting. These included South Wales. The vote for peace was taken after the miners' officials had pointed out the dangers of a national strike to the industry, the miners, and the country. After the vote, the conference reversed the recommendation it made last Friday, that in the event of a stoppage in one district, notices should be handed in throughout the country. Interview with Ministers. Officials reported on the interview with the Prime Minister and other Ministers regarding the operation of the new Mines Act, in relation to jthe coal situation, and upon the recommendations of the National Industrial Board that in South Wales and Scottish areas temporary arrangements should be made for working under the spread-over, on existing wages. It is stated that the Prime Minister gave similar advice, so that while the work continued on such a basis the mining industry might have a chance to get the organisation changed and the new Mines Act working. The Coal Mines Act. When Mr Ramsay MacDunald met. the leaders of the Miners' Federation to-day, he discussed the position in the industry with them for two hours, after which Mr William Graham, President of the Board of Trade, and Mr E. Shinwell, Minister for Mines, carried on the conference for a further two hours. The Ministers urged the necessity of giving the Coal Mines Act time to succeed.