THE COAL SITUATION

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1920, Page 2

THE COAL SITUATION

| ••REUTER's” TELEGRAM.]

DEMAND FOR CHEAPER COAL. ' LONDON, September 20,

The coal crisis continues. Welsh workers resent the idea of going only for a wage increase. No fewer than 60,000 Rhondda miners have protested against the National Executive of the Miners’ Federation, dropping the demand for a reduction of 14/2 a ton in household coal, They have instructed their delegates not to participate in any more conferences, pending a South Wales miners meeting to decide what course is to bo adopted. The Mid-Rhondda railwaymen have adopted the same stand. They have rescinded their previous resolutions pledging their support to the miners. This is owing to the miners’ abandonment of the demand for a 14/- a ton reduction of domestic coal. LONDON, September 20.

It is expected that the conciliatory tone of last week-end’s meetings would strengthen the hands of the parties"

working for peace in the coal crisis.

It is known that a number of the miners’ leaders are in favour of tho Government’s final offer being submitted to a further ballot of the men,

LABOUR M.’S P. ATTITUDE. DEFENDS DEARER COAL, LONDON September 20. Regarding the Welsh opposition to dropping the cheaper coal demand, Rt. Hon. Mr Brace, a Welsh Labour M.P. has written to* the (Rhondda workers contending it was impossible to go forward with the full dual demand in view of there having been a great fall in the output for the June quarter.' Mr Brace says he Would ‘‘ask tho miners to give the Executive fair play.”