BRITISH COAL CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 3, 29 September 1920, Page 7

BRITISH COAL CRISIS

SITUATION BRIGHTER PROSPECT OF A LASTING SETTLEMENT FIXING OF A DATUM LINE ANTICIPATED By Tolograph—Press Association—Copyright (Iteo. September 28. 10.30 p.m.) London, September 27. Tho ooal situation is brighter than it has beon for some weeks. General satisfaction ia manifested by owners and miners at tho prospect of tho negotiations reaching a lasting settlement. Tho belief is confidently entertained that a datum line will bo fixed at to-morrow's conference.' In this conncction Lord Aberconway, chairman of the Sheepbridge Colliery, anticipates that tho line will be approximately 210 million tons, which is well below what the men produced in tlie past. It is understood that tho miners are anxious that the datum lino shall be so determined as to secure on tho present output a 2s. advance.—Reuter. JOINT "CONFERENCE DISCUSSES OUTPUT QUESTION. (Reo. September 28, 11.35 p.m.) , London, September 27. A joint conference of. coat owners and miners sat for lliTee hours and discussed the ca.use of' tho reduction in the output and means of securing an increased output. It then adjourned until to-rnor-yow for the purposo of enabling miners to consult'with their respective committees.

It is understood, that negotiations aro proceeding in the most friendly manner, and there are grounds for hoping that a mutually satisfactory settlement will be reached, immediately. •It is expected that a dofinito decision will be submitted to the national conference of miners' delegates in London on September SO for acceptance. Meanwhile, however, a meeting of the executivo council of the South Wales Miners' Federation at Cardiif passed a resolution declaring, in view of the very general protests from districts, against committing the miners in tlio present negotiations to tho future, regulation of "wages by output. Tho council decided to telegraph to the Welsh representatives on the committee of tho Miners'* Federation of Great Britain stating that the council was unanimously, of the opinion' that tho present demand for an increaso in wages should be settled and tho whole matter of consolidation of the present ■wages and method of regulation of future changes should be subject to investigation and further consultation ■ with the whole of tlio workmen.—Router. SERIOUS "COMPLICATION DEMAND OF'WELSH MINERS' EXECUTIVE. (Reo. September 23, 1.20 a.m.) London, September 28. While it is'beliteved that the coalowners and miners havo reached a provisonal agreement regarding the now output basis, tho action of the Welsh miners' executive has introduced a serious complication, which means that th» Welshmen insist oil an immediate grant of tho 2s. demand before the output basis is fixed, and points to possible separate striko action if tlio Welsh objections ai\j not sustained.—Renter. TRANSPORTNADERS ASK FOR FURTHEK POWERS. London, September 27. The transport leaders have circularised the affiliated unions, asking for further powers, on the ground that tlio ooal crisis was by . no menus over and positive action of a strike character may face them during the present week.— Iteuter. RESOURCES OF FIFE~ MINERS' UNION CRIPPLED BY NTNE WEEKS' STRIKE. London, September 27. A nine weeks' striko at tlio Bowliill Colliery cripplcd tho financial'TesouTces of the Fife Miners' Union. The union recommends the men to resume work on tho old terms.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. unemploymentTrobiM acute GREAT NUJIBERS IDLE IN ENG-' LISH CITIES. London. September 27. In consequence of the trado slump and tho uncertainty of the coal position, the unemployment problem is becoming more aoute. It is estimated that there are 200,000 idle in london. and the number of unemployed in Manchester and Birmingham is' increasing by over a thousand a week. The Government has decided to hasten plans for Telief work. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.