BRITISH COLLIERIES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 516, 25 May 1909, Page 7

BRITISH COLLIERIES.

[)■■ ■'■''■'■ HOURS AND .WAGES.-/t/-/, : '^ BIG, LOCK-OUT IN WALES. (BiTELiaiiArn—ruisss Assooution—corVitianT.) ; : ' \ ; '• ■: "■' ■;: ; ';",' ■■' ■■ uomlonj May' ; 23.".- • The ooal-ownors 'have "■'■ ;'flrinou'nctd,} : at .:■ a moeiing. of..the. South Wales ■'~ Conciliation Board,.that it is'tlicir intention to, eorve a .'m6nth'ii'--MtiM."t<)>\vork6rs.;in/ , .thft{ftiiifts/on. June .1, Iti oonneotibn v ttith tho .coining; into operation of tho'iliacs (Eight ■ Soxtra), Aot, , to, terminate oil contracts, . i'v; ;/-. -, •/' This action will involve ; a look-out of a hundred and fifty thousand 'miners at .tho. end of June, unless a settlement': is. effected. ; Tlio decision of LbrdSt. Aldwyn (fdrmeriy Sir/Michael in'the case,of; the \Velsk collieries,;reduces .miners', vjages ,7-i pef cent, v;;';',. ■■■ ;^: v;/.^;/ :'i :; : ■ '•."■'■ ';,;. opposing; contentions; ■ ; i /Under: date March. S, the Cardiff cori'espon- , . dent, of '"i'hojl'imos'^writos!—"There is a feel,ing of .doop\ unrest, throughout' the-Welsh coal-: field at the present time, , aridjit is t'careil, particularly in vlew.of the manifesto issued Dytho South Wales Miners'-federation last right, that ti sovero strugglo:may take place very soon. The leaders pf the ;mon' show' , strong vesentmoht at ,tto demand o! the. ruastera that the wages Agreement'.be..terminated on June 30,■'■ becauso of tho ooining into operation,of the Coal Mines (Eight Hours)- Act., This :is as an attempt on the part of the employers , to escape their obligations -. under, .the ; Coacili.'iti jn Board agreement.; ~Ori the other hand, the , t. asters are :munh annexed at the 'contention: iiisistehtly put forward/by some;of the'leaders tf. thoinon that no company or proprietor has tho right to oloso his colliery if it does 'not pay, but: must parry It on until:the'«nd of the agreement, even if he be ruined thereby. '; ■-,'• •.-.-.•■, ■;■•