BRITISH COAL CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1390, 25 March 1912, Page 7

BRITISH COAL CRISIS

PROGRESS OF THE BILL

FURTHER CONFERENCE TO BE HELD

FOQDLESS AND FIRELESS HOMES

By TeleEraDti-Presß Association-Copyright London, March 22. The House of Commons has continued the discussion of tho Coal Mines Bill in Committee, and a number of important amendments have been negatived.

Major-General Sir Ivor Herbert, Liberal momber for Monmouthshire South, and a coal-owner, moved tho insertion of a clause providing for a minimum wage, of five shillings and two shillings for men and boys respectively. The Prime Minister was disposed to think 2s. and ss. reasonable, considering the unique difficulties of mining. He believed the district boards would adopt the sums, but thought it would be most undesirable to insert particular figures in tho Bill. Parliament was equipped with the information necessary to form a judgment; moreover, to' do as tho amendment proposed would bo treated as a precedent. Mr. Enoch Edwards (Labour member for Hauley and secretary of tho North Staffordshire Miners' Association) said tho rejection of the amendment would close tho door to an immediate settlement. Mr. lionar Law, Leader of tho Opposition, said all members of the House would bo glad if ss. a day was paid to every miner, but it was impossible to fix such a scale. There must bo an examination to see whether trade could stand the burden. A heated debate followed. Several Radicals and Labour members urged tho Government to accept the amondment, Sir Edward Grey asked the Labourites whether it was true the Miners' Federation was prepared to waivo the schedule. If so, though the 23. and ss. could not be included in the Bill, the masters and men might como to an agreement on the point. Mr. Koir Hardie, Labour member for llerthyr Tydvil, and others, promised that tho federation would meet forthwith. The amendment was finally negatived without division. It may be rediscussed at the report stage.

Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald, Leader of the Labour party, on being interviewed, said he hoped on Monday to find that the Bill was unnecessary. The owners hint 'that if the Bill' is passed as it stands they will not reopen their mine 3 until the boards fix the minimum. Possibly several will Dot reopen at all if they havo to work at a loss. The Surfacemen's Federation, has notified the Labour party that unless they aro included under the minimum rates they will block tho resumption of work. The "Westminster Gazette" slates that tho Labour party is deeply chagrined at the scope of tho Minimum Wage Bill, as it had expected the Government to yield to the demand for the insertion of minimum rates. AMERICAN CRISIS. ON THE VERGE OP A STOPPAGE. New York, March 22. The Cleveland miners' demand for an increase of 10 per cent, in wage 3 was rejected, and a striko is imminent unless arbitration proposals put forward on behalf of the operators are adopted. Two hundred thousand miners in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, and 300,000 other workers, will bo affected. (Rec. March 24, 5.5 p.m.) New York, March 24. The coal operators' negotiations in connection with tho mining dispute at Cleveland have been postponed until Tuesday. It is'understood that the owners are anxious to place the terms of settloment before the workers.