TRAGIC COAL DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 49, 22 November 1926, Page 9

TRAGIC COAL DISPUTE

VIRTUALLY ENDED DISTRICTS TO NEGOTIATE WITH OWNERS DECISION OF MINERS’ CONFERENCE The tragic coal dispute in Britain is considered to be virtually ended as the result of the decision of the miners' delegate conference recommending all the districts to open negotiations with the coal owners. BY Telegraph.—Press association. COPYRIGHT. London, November 20. The Miners' Conference adopted a resolution recommending all the districts immediately to open negotiations with the owners in the respective districts, and not to enter a final settlement until a national conference had received the reports of all the negotiations. , It is significant that ten thousand men resumed work to-day, making the total fifty thousand for the week. The tragic coal dispute virtually ends with the delegates’ decision to authorise the men to negotiate for district settlements. The decision was reached after an acrimonious debate. Lancashire urged the acceptance of the district vote to fight on. The executive, however, expressed anxiety that some attempt should be made to settle, and after this the decision to open district negotiations was carried by an overwhelming majority. It really means that national negotiations have been abandoned, as well as the Government’s terms, though the districts are urged to endeavour to incorporate certain national principles, which will be decided upon bv the executive and considered at to-day’s delegate conference. It. will be at least a week before the district negotiations are completed, after which a national conference will be necessary. PRINCIPLES TO BE ADOPTED IN NEGOTIATIONS (Rec. November 21, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 20. The miners’ delegate conference arranged that the districts should immediately enter into negotiations with the owners and report to a delegate conference on November 26. The conference drew up six principles which should be adopted in the negotiations, agreeing to the Government’s terms regarding minimum and subsistence wages, but including a new principle that the agreements be terminable by three months’ notice on either side. This is interpreted as a desire to ensure the federation’s control of the districts, enabling the calling of a simultaneous general stoppage. Mr. Cook declares that the delegates’ decision is not to surrender to the owners, who must not seek to impose impossible and unfair conditions. THE MINERS’ VOTE ON GOVERNMENT’S TERMS London, November 19. A total of 460,806 miners voted against acceptance of the Government’s terms, which 313,200 favoured. This is the final return.