MINERS’ WAGES

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 3, 28 September 1921, Page 5

MINERS’ WAGES

OWNERS’ PROPORTION INCREASED MANY COLLIERIES TO BE CLOSED i By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, September 26. Tho "Daily Telegraph's" correspondent a; Cardiff states that the Coal Mines Department of tho Board of Trade has issued an order without warning increasing the owners’ proportion of miners' "tiges to the extent of an additional Its. per ton. The order, while not affecting the actual wages, involves the owners in the loss of half a million sterling for the current month. Consequently it has been decided to close numerous collieries from to-day. The effect of the order is described as ruinous to all the South Wales collieries. Salesmen are already refusing to quote for forward business Tho Board of Trade explained to the Central News Agency that the owners had misinterpreted the terms of the recent settlement, which provided that if reductions in wages exceeded a certain figure the Government subvention would be granted to owners forgoing profits. The. owners omitted to observe the latter condition when submitting recent accounts on which the SejitembeT rate of wages was ’based. The error was subsequently admitted, but tho owners pointed out that the Aimes Department had fixed wages. The owners’ attitude does not concern the Board of Trade. Wages paid under tho settlement are only affected until the end of September, when, tho subvention ceases and the mines become-private property. If tho owners would rather close than pay certain wages, they are entitled to do to.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.