BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1921, Page 2

BRITISH & FOREIGN ITEMS.

IL'S'ifiALIAN ami n.z. cable association. ItItITISIT CO AI. OWNERS. 1 LONDON'} September 28. A deputation of the South Wales Coal Owners' Association interviewed the .Mines l)e; a: tment to-day relative to a \vn<;es pet rent 'ge dispute. The Department deferred its reply. The owners afterw ,:ds issued a statement declaring th.it the percentage payable I ,'y owners "as derided upon under a certificate which did not disclose the profits but only stated the percentage of wages payable. The owners later ascertained that the total profit surrenderahle did not exceed (.'325,000. I pon this they state they contended that the official instructions that they should pay a percentage of 97 as against 75 was ultra vires.

The owners say they have been ordered to pa v in wages a larger sum than they received for their coal. BRITISH COAT. SLUMP. LONDON, September 29. Tin- KxecHtive of the Miners’ Federation of (Trent llrituin were compelled to suspend their ordinary business at to-day’s meeting, in order to discuss the grave unemployment conditions in the coal industry. Those are owing to the absence of trade and to a lack of orders closing unremunerntivo pits, and other causes. The Kxociitivc resolved to request the Government to devote three millions of the unexpended balance ot the ten million wage subsidy to the assisting of wages in October and November, when the. new permanent scheme begins to operate. MORE RIOTING. 'Received This Day »t 8.30 n.m.) LONDON. Sept. 29. Stone throwing and rioting occurred in ltelfast last night. The police dispersed a crowd by a baton i iiarne. There was revolver firing in the neighbourhood of the docks. Two men were sent to hospital. THE RUSSIAN WAV. CHRISTIANIA. Sept. 28. Great indignation was caused by the announcement that Russia intends to claim an import duty of fifteen per cent, on all food imports, including goods sent by lied Cross. The newspaper “ Aitonposted” states it is unindeligihle how Russia .-an appeal to the world for food, and simultaneously hinders its importation.