OFFER TO THE MINERS

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1376, 29 February 1912, Page 5

OFFER TO THE MINERS

THE BRITISH CRISISNOVEL SCHEME OUTLINED BY PREMIER. MORE MEN COME OUTDy Telerrapu-Pres3 Association-CopyrizUt (Roc. February 2 8, !U'i p.m.) London, February 2S. After the Premier's address at the mining conference Mr. Lloyd-George asked a number of questions, including one as to who would guarantee the minimum wage when a miner take-; n contract. Messrs. Edwards and Smellio outlined the men's reasons for pressing for the concession of an individual minimum wage for each district. They stated that they were ready to consider tho details afterwards. The Premier then intimated that the Government had devised a scheme dealing with the application of the principle of a minimum wage. He »sked : the miners to appoint a committee to consider the proposal. The meeting between the Cabinet Ministers and the Miners' Committeo lasted three hours. It is understood that the Government had difficulty in inducing the men's representatives to consider Hio schemo, which is reported to be of a very novel character. There- is a consensus of opinion that, the Government has definitely decided that the minimum wage must bo granted in order to prevent some of the miners from being victimised by being allotted work in abnormal places.

Tho Government, also desires that both sides shall undertake to allow the Government to act as umpire in event of their failing (o agree.

When the Premier approached the masters on Thursday, he suggested that the adoption of a minimum wage would affect only 25 per cent, of the men, and not involve much increase in expenditure. Many of tho owners denied this.

Thirty-eight thousand men are already striking, including 17,000 in Yorkshire. The strikers stoned and threw bottles at a train taking miners to Chesterfield. The police dispersed (he rioters.

WELSH REVOLUTIONARY SCHEME. MINERS' FEDERATION SUPPORT. (Eec. February 29, 0.5 a.m.) London, February 28. TJie "Evening News'' states that eight members of the Welsh executive are assisting the South Wales Miners' Industrial Organisation. Mr. W. IF. Mainwaring, secretary of tho new body, is a prominent advocates of syndicalism. He states that, he hopes tho Executive Council of the South Wales Miners' Federation will adopt the scheme to dispossess the coalowners as a whole.

MORE MINERS COME OUT. MAY AS WELL "PLAY ON STRIKE PAY." London, February 27. Including the two thousand mentioned yesterday, 22,000 miuers in Derbyshire are out. Several thousands in South Yorkshire, and SOOO at Nottingham, have also struck. They refused the federation's request not to strike until Thursday next. The men argue that as there arc such enormous stocks of i coal there is sure to be short time after a settlement, and that they may as well play for time on strike pay.

Ten thousand miners in Warwickshire, where n minimum wage prevails, arc ballotiiig as to whether they shall obey the order to strike.

PROGRESS OF CONFERENCES. London, February 27. The hopes of a settlement of the coal trouble that prevailed this morning anions delegates have up to the present proved unfruitful. The Premier (Mr. Asquith), speaking in the IToufo of Commons at 4 o'clock, said ho was unable to make a statement. There have been many conferences. The Premier first met one side, then the other, after which there was a eonferenco between Ministers and th» owners end miners. 'J'he conferences have adjourned until to-morrow. . ■ The Miners' Federation is now holding a conference. Kverj* district in the United Kingdom is represented. •