MEN STICK OUT TIGHT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3985, 19 July 1915, Page 5

MEN STICK OUT TIGHT.

N■ > COMPROMISE ACCEPTARLE. WARNING FROM MR RUNG!?!AN. EXECUTIVE TO MEET AGAIN TO-DAY. GERMAN PLOT HINTED AT. (Received Jnlv IS. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 18. Tlie coal owners gave reasons tor maintaining their standpoint, but finally placed themselves in Mr Runciinari’s hands. The South "Wales miners demand the concession of the full programme of the draft agreement originally submil ted to the coal owners and the withdrawal of the application of the .Munitions Act to the coalfields, which, they say, has caused ten thousand times more feeling than anything else. They say the miners in South Wales are‘as much entitled to wage agreements as the English miners. Most of the delegates are from Cardiff, and have- sons and brothers at the front, and are as intensely patriotic as anybody in the Kingdom. The miners at Pontypridd declare that the men feel that if the question of a new agreement was postponed to the end of the war, thev "would he done.

Mr J. Edwards, ALP., appeals to Mr Asquith to personally intervene. The delegates have informed Air Runeiinan that the proclamation, tv as a blunder, considerably increasing the difficulties of a settlement. They say the Government is entirely responsible for the situation.

Mr Runciman made various propom Is, but tlie delegates, after discussing them, insist on the immediate necessity for a new minimum.and also a new equivalent selling price as a definite basis for any future advanced, by the independent chairman of aconciliation board.

Their demand, after some discussion in private for the concession of Hu* original proposals and the withdrewal of ' the proclamation, did not meec with a favorable response from Mr I!nnciman but the suggestion that the men should be allowed, to resume conditionally on the original terms being granted in the meantime a-nl that the executive should discuss their incorporation in the new agreement, not necessarily to include the whole of the original proposals. j ] .Mr Runciman declined, and on:pea- ; sived the Cabinet’s extremely unsatis- j factory position if their attitude clmnged to sir li extent. He said h<; , luu! already offered the best- terms the : Government could concede, and it v/ys j impossible to go further and, ;f the miners persisted, a very serious situation would arise. The Munitions Act was already enforced, and ne was . at present una'de to find a way out , of the difficulty. _ | f ile miners replied that the procla- , ma.tion made the situation woi.se arm. that solutions possible a week ago] wen- now unthinkable. The executive decided to adjourn and to discuss this morning the possibility of formulating proposals with a view to ,securing the assent or too w hole executive committee.Mr Hartshorn, in an interview, /expressed widespread criticism against the masters among the men, remargin <r ; "What course had we open only that of stopping work? They thought wt* would never do this. tt nieuuv our overcoming our own patriotism and facing the scorn, derision aji<* taunts of the whole country, besides facing Government penalties. ( i hey tried to exploit our patriotism. ’ He added that he had endeavored, notwithstanding, to get decisions m f. lV or of the men, but one could understand the feelings of the men, who objected to being defeated wrtn subtlety by the masters. The South Wales miners’ executive discussed yesterday the interview with Mr 'Runciman, and found it impossible to reach a decision, productive of a settlement, and so adjourned ml Monday. - Q ~ “Mahon” strongly urges the boutsi Wales miners to follow their leaders advice and not forgot the cry, “Your country needs you.” which applies bo colliers as much as to sole.i ere and sailors. . . . , , The “Evening INews ’ suggests iAM* German influences have been at work in South Wales for a long time, and says some of the agitators are suspected of German origin. Tm-ro are more' agitators in dm rank and hie or the Welsh coalfields than in any other British field and manv am not British nationality. This -feature noteworthy, as Wales is t/n nuun source of the navy’s coni.