THE BRITISH LABOUR CRISIS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1920, Page 3

THE BRITISH LABOUR CRISIS.

(Reuter’s Telegrams.)

CON!LICENCE FAILS. # LONDON, Sept. 9. The Conference between the miners’ executive and Minister of Labour, from Which so much was hoped, has failed. Mr Smillie informed Sir P. Horne, that T- the executive was of opinion that there were no new proposals in liis statement, which in their judgment would lead to a satisfactory settlement of the inineis cajrp. Tjie Conference then terminated.

DIRECT ACTION POLICY. LONDON', Sepember 19. The *‘Daily News” states that political circles are discussing the general electiop and. the coal issue. Mr Lloyd George does not desire to appeal to the country until after next session, hut if it is essential he may ask the conntry to register a verdict on the policy of direct action, which would enable Cabinet to deal drastically with such threats in the future.

COAL OUTPUT, LONDON, September 10. Tho Goal Association circulates a comparison of the miners’s output and pay in Britain and America. It says the pit-head price of coal in America is 12/10 a ton and in England 31/3 a ton. The output per shift is 3.12 tons in England and .77 (sic) of a ton in America.. It says the average weekly wage in America is 76/- and England 100/-

(REDUCTION OF COAL PRICES, LONDON, September 9.

Mr Barnes, speaking at Glasgow, said that the miner’.s demands that coal prices be dropped to 14s 2d per {op, was an illegitimate demand and outside ihe scope ef any sectional body ip thp ppuntry. Jt wouldn’t mean a present to thp consumer pf coal as it would have to be paid for by taxation. The Goyernment might reasonably say: ‘‘Let things gone on for two or three years, during which nationalisation and wages might be fully and freely considered.”