COAL CRISIS IN BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 264, 4 August 1919, Page 7

COAL CRISIS IN BRITAIN

THE YORKSHIRE DEADLOCK

SERIOUS SITUATION AT ALL . MINES THOUSANDS OF WOOLLEN EMPLOYEES

By Telegraph—Press Assooiation-OoDvriebt London, July 30. Sir R. S. Home (Minister for Labour) discussed the situation with a deputation of Yorkshire miners, and satisfactory progress is being made towards a settlement. The Miners' Association has agreed to confer with the owners.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. August 3, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 81. At tho Coal Conferenco Mr. Herbert Smith declined to recognise the Miners' Federation's right to negotiate with the Government oh behalf of Yorkshire. He invited tho mine owners to negotiate independently of tho Government formula. The owners replied that this was impossible as they were bound by tho Coal Controller's decision. Mr. Smith's alternative proposal was equivalent to tho elimination of piece work, as wages would ibe "the samo whatever the output. Tho deadlock in connection with the Yorkshire dispute has dismayed tho public, who had been led to believe that the parties had only come together to arrive at a speedy settlement on the lines of tho Government agreement. The Miners' Federation has now found that when the Government's formula is applied to Yorkshire it represents an advance of 11.8, whereas tho Yorkshiro miners' are determined to seoure the maximum percentage of 14.2. Apart from Yorkshire, a serious 6ituatiou has arisen at, all the mines owing to tho surfacemen demanding an increase, under threat of an immediate strike. Meanwhile the woollen manufacturers are exhausting their last reserves of coal. Fifty thousand aro already out of work in Yorkshire, apart from the miner;. It is estimated that the difference between 11.8 and 14.2 means 100s. annually per man, or a million pounds a year for tho Yorkshire coalfields. There are 30,000 unemployed at Bradford. Some firms are keeping their works going with coal costing 455. a ton, which before tho war cost 10s., including cart-ing—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. HOPE OF SETTLEMENT REVIVED. (Rec. August 3, 5.5 p.m.) London, August 1. The War Cabinet has considered the miners' deadlock. Sir R. S. Homo later received a miners' deputation. These developments revive a hope of settle-ment.Tr-Au9.-N.ii. Cable As6n.

TRIPLE ALLIANCE BALLOT DEMANDS USB OE FORCE IN LABOUR DISPUTES. London, July 30. . Mr. J. H. Thomas, referring to tho Triple Alliance ballot demands, said tho workers were not in favour or Bolshevism, but they complained of tho Allies interfering or dictating the form of government of ciny other country,. The Crown was entitled to use soldiers in order to preserve law and order, but was not entitled to use soldiers for the purpose of breaking strikes. Mr. Churchill replied that it was odious for the State to use force in, a dispute between Capital and Labour; but, where tho State as a whole wa9 challenged and the life and welfaro of tho community were at stake, it obviously must uiso alt its resources to fight, without flineliing, and to the bitter end. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

"DOLES AND POLITICAL. BRIBERY" ATTACK ON MR. LLOYD GEORGE. London, July 30. Lord Askwith has written a remarkable letter to the newspapers, indicting Mr. Lloyd George for the opportunist prodigality with which he has imbued ft colossal staff of civil servants. The Yorkshire settlement, he says, was a degradation of government. Everywhere there i 9 an orgy of expenditure.. The fashionable cry is, "Give, give"; and the Government replies by ladling out more doles. Labour sees gross profiteering and Government extravagance, and naturally asks for more. The system of doles and political bribery cannot last, and it may irretrievably injure the country before it comes to a dishonoured end. The settlement of industrial disputes should be left to the employers and employed, and a, Government Department should only lend its aid when there is a deadlock, and should do so without interference from Downing Street.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable A6sn.