WELSH COAL CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2519, 21 July 1915, Page 7

WELSH COAL CRISIS

OUTLOOK MORE HOPEFUL MINISTERS AT CARDIFF THE COAL PRICES BILL By Telejrapli—Press Association—OoEyrisht London, July 19. The coal 6trike situation has not improved. The outlook is more hopeful. Members of the Miners' Executive were about to leave Cardiff for London,, it is believed in order to bring a new suggestion for a settlement, but Mr. Runciman (President of the Board of Trade) stopped the deputation. Subsequently, as the outcome of a Cabinet decision, Mr. Lloyd George (Minister for Munitions), accompanied by Mr. Runciman (President of the Board of Trade),.and Mr. Arthur Henderson, left for Cardiff. (Rec. July 20, 8.20 p.m.) London, July 20. Mr. Lloyd George had an enthusiastic welcome at Newport. The Ministers Immediately conferred with the miners' executive. MR. LLOYD GEORGE TALKS TO THE MEN. (Rec. July 20, 9.55 p.m.) London, July 20. 'At the conference Mr. Lloyd George pointed out the extreme gravity of the situation, discoursing on the effect of tKe striko upon the No Government, ho said, could possibly allow the continuanco of a conflict which imperilled the chances of victory. The conference did not arrive at a decision, but adjourned until 10 o'clock to-day. Mr. Lloyd George will meet the owners ■ at noon. OLDER MEN ASHAMED OF THE STRIKE. SYNDICALISTS AT WORK. (Rec. July 20, 11.5 p.m.) London, July 20. The older men in South Wales regret the strike almost to a man. Many are dejected and i shamefaced, feeling the odious position in which they are placed, but they declare that unkss they get their rights now the smaller demand made upon their output afty peace will enable tho employers fo treat them worse ttfan ever. Most of them admit they are sorry they struck, but add that they mil not give in now. The belief that the companies are making fabulous fortunes . is universal, though there is no evidence of the fact. The moving spirit® are a little bank of syndicalists'who are out to wreck society, but fear to put their views to tho test of a' general ballot. The general impression is that Mr. Lloyd George will find a way of making it easy for tho miners to retreat from their impossible position. LIMITATION OF GOAL PRICES. NEW BILL IN THE SOUSE. London, July 19. In the House of Commons the President of the Board of Trade, the Right Hon. Wajter Runciman, moved the second reading of tho Limitation of Coiil Prices Bill. Sir J. Walton (Liberal M.P. for Barnsley, Yorkshire, formerly actively connected with coal and allied trades), moved the. rejection of tho measure 'on the ground that it penalised one industry and allowed other hugo profit-mak-ing industries to go free. Mr. Runciman stated that the rise in the price of coal represented about twenty millions for tho year. The new Bill would not preclude the Chancellor of tho Exchequer from laying hands on] war profits from any industry. ' BILL' READ A SECOND TIME. (Rec. July 20, 8.20 p.m.) . ■ London, July 20. The Coal Bill has been read a seoond time. Mr. Runciman stated that owing to tho enlistment of one out of every five miners, the output, which from January till June, 1914, was 142 million tons, was for the same period of 1915 only 127}- million. The Bill was a rough-and-ready method of preventing abnormal 'prices. The average extra cost of coal, in consequence of war bonuses was between"")} wepence and a shilling. ' i The Minister added that the Government had not discovered the existence of a coal ring in London. The retailers had permitted him to examine their books. They had agreed to a maximum price for the summer, and wero prepared to make a similar arrangement for the winter. It would therefor® bo unfair to lis arbitrarily a standard price. He hoped that the South Wales settlement would he stable and peaceful. Every other coalfield hacl agreed to the arrangements made for the war. Sir A. B. Markham urged tho Government to fix tho maximum retail prices, otherwise tho middlemen, would flccco the poor. STATE CONTROL URGED. (Rec. July'2o, 11.55 p.m.) London, July 20. The ''Manchester Guardian" suggests | national control of all the collieries on the' South Wales field only, which should terminato automatically after tho war ordors have been filled; meanwhile tho owners to enjoy iucomes based, on tho average profits of prosperous years preceding tho war, and also salaries if they mauage tlioir own pits. "Tho workmen could then accept compulsion as publio,servants, knowing that the profits were going to tho country. It is impossiblo to treat a man who is working for a private employer as a transgressor of tho public law when ho withholds his labour."- (