STRIKE SITUATION

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1920, Page 1

STRIKE SITUATION

' AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLS ASSOUIATION] v, >: f. ■ :•••■ ’■•' r ■ GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE. ILONU.PN, October 19In moving the adjournment of the House in connection- with the strike, Sir R. Horne said any Government which dealt directly with the wage clause was always in an unfortunate analogous position because claims might be made by employers and employee! for purely political PP?'P°® ! ; S - There must be some buffer between the ’Government and the party making the claim, in order to resist overwhelming pressure, it' was ’ said the miners would not trust' a“tribunal ‘becaiiso''' of what happened over the report of the firihkey Commission. That was ah unfair argument.’ The wages and hours recommended by the Sahkey Commission were immediately conceded, though the political matter was not dealt with. Why should hot the miners submit to the sanie' rnethod' of 'settling 1 their claims as other great trade unions .16. It had been suggested that the' miners should be given 2/-' 'immediately ‘which would be taken off if an increased butput were not realised. He did uot know what the’ miners would say to that, hut there was no indication that the Miners' Federation would agree. Under the Sankey award the miners received an increased wage, which more than covered the increased cost of living. A disquieting feature ' was that every increase of the wages of miners had been followed by a decreased output. Government therfore desired to give the miners an incentive to do their best and made a generous offer. This was refused but the Government, were still open to every suggestion which would give a peaceful solution. DEBATE IN COMMONS. LONDON, Oct. 20. In tfie House of Commons the eagerly awaited debate on the coal strike took place. The most important feature was ta JL’aijbo'ur 'proposal for a solution. This was submitted by the Jit. Hon. Mr Brace, Welsh member. Speaking on behalf of the miners Mr Brace said that until the government gave the workers ah assurance that when they are out of work they shall have a living wage secure, there will be no incentive for them to increase coal production. He believed, he said’ that there was now* ah opportunity of settling the strike in a day or two. What he suggested was that the two shillings rise asked should be granted at once, as a temporary measure, until such time as a permanent scheme of wage rates is formed by a National Wages Board. Meantime he said,: let the coal owners and tlie miners concentrate-on the output, because the output was money, the Government should appoint a coriimittee to decide the proportion of the coal .profits that each party should have. Otherwise, he affirmed, a ghastly struggle would continue. Mr Thomas, Labour M.P., said that if this strike went on, tiled other trades must bo involved in it. Seventeen'days ago ,h# remarked, a meeting of the Railwaymen’s delgates was called • to consider the situation: After a two days’ debate, lie pointed there -was only a majority of one vote in favour of not striking. The difference between the ( two sides ,he considered, was so small that any wanton continuance of the strike would he completely' unjustified.

LLOYD GEORGE REPLIES. '• LONDON, Oct. 20. Replying Lloyd George' said Government were anxious to have the dispute referred to an impartial tribunal, not only because the miners’ claims c-ould thus be fully considered, but becatifee it would produce a permanent settlement. ‘ This was out of regard for the interests of the nation as a whole. The existing system of calculating wages, he said, was bad,' because'the ftiners • would get an increased’ reward that bore no reference to the output. Indeed the higher' wages hitherto had resulted in a lower output. There being an increase in the world’s coal output, this was causing a fall in British prices. More inducement must must be given to coal'owners, as well as to miners, to promote the industry’s best interests. This should take the form of an increased output. Regarding the proposal for an immediate temporary 2s a day concession, the Premier asked what would happen if an increased output were not then obtained. Would the miners consent to 2s being taken off. If they would not, then the strike would he merely postponed, and the Government would incur' the blame of provoking another strike three months hence. Mr Lloyd George asserted the acceptance of Mr Brace’s proposal would he equivalent to a complete concession to tbc miners’ demands. The Government however, were anxious to secure a settlement that would reward the owners fully as well as the miners. Unless sucli a solution were found, it would he

impossible to resist workers’ otlie.r claims of a similar nature. The Government, he said, deprecated any attempts to rush into temporary settlements. It was necessary, for the interests of tho nation as a whole, to secure permanent settlements, that did justice to all parties, to the miners, the owners, the community and the entire industry of the country, which was dependent on coal. Mr Adamson (Loader of the Laboui Party) followed Mr Lloyd George. He suggested that the Premier, on his own responsibility should summon the miners and the owners to consider Mr Brace’s proposal. The Premier asked whether such a conference would discuss any other proposals besides Mr Braco’s. Mr Adamson replied that suck conference should be called Partly to discuss Mr Brace’s proposal, but, it this were impracticable, the discussion might be widened. ~ Mt Arthur Henderson supported Mi Adamson’s views. The Premier replied that the Govern-

ment would welcome anjy suggestion likely to lead to peace, but declared if would only make matters worse if the government prematurely entered into a conference in which one party adopted a rigid, final position. He promised to consult the " Cabinet in order to consider wlvat were the chances of sucli a conference considering the Government proposals in general. The motion lapsed, r 1 HOPES OF SETTLEMENT. ‘ ’ vU LONDON, 'Oct. 20. There was a conciliatory tono'iii; the coal debate.' This caiised no surprise in Pafliahientary circles? A good deal of unofficial negotiating is proceeding behind the scenes. The Premier lias informant*' conferred with a number of liis colleagues. " At the close of Mr 'Brake's speech the Labour members requested the' Premier' to defer his Yepjy to a later stage tluin was arranged, so as to enable Mr Adamson (Labour' Leaderj to indicate the results of tlie Labour M'.P-’s discussion. These events are considered to strengthen 'the hopes for a peaceful outcome.' ' OUTLOOK NQ BETTER. LONDON, October 20Tlie danger 5 of a Workers strike was increased yeserday, when a ’special" meeting of delegates issued a warning to the Unions’ members to prepare to ceasp work. , This decision does'no'it affect tile busmen or 'fr am way men. ijie miners’ leaders, after the House of Commons (Jebate declared that ’yhe Premier’s rep|y was a- disappoinrang one. ht made no advance upon his previous attitude. They saw no reason to summon the Executive, and are inclined to believe the Premier’s speech has made the position worse though tliev have not abandoned hope.

! Some of the newspapers also consider the Rebate disappointing.