BRITISH COAL CRISIS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1925, Page 1

BRITISH COAL CRISIS

WAGE CUTS RESISTED. LONDON. July :i. The miners have decided to resist the coal owners’ proposals. The Labour paper. “Daily Herald." -tales that the Miners’ Federation of Britain turned down the proposals of (he coal owners ]or a cut in wages. I lie miners' decision, it: sa.Vs, lias Loon tal.en lor the following rt.asons: Firstly: The removal ol the guaranteed minimum wages which are already below Hie cost, of living al Liverpool. Secondly: Provision is guaranteed in the owners’ proceeds for profits, irrespeet ire of wages.

'I birdie : J lie owners’ proposals mean an immediate rediielion in wages of from Id. I ! to 17.H1 per cent. Komi lily: The continued separation of mining operations from the coking, the hy-prudnci and oilier departments of i lie industry. LONDON. July I. ( - N The ~onl miners are hopeful llml they L|oriH receive help Irom Hie oilier great 'Unions in resisting the coal owners’ wage cut proposals. Mr Herbert Smith presided at a meeting of ilio Subcommittee appointed in work out the details of the proposed Alliance of the Miners, the liailwayen. flic Transport Workers, and the Engineers. The Sul'-Coniinillee was engaged for two hours in amending the suggested constitution of the Alliance. This constitution must lie now .submitted to the various Knions ami to further cunfei'enees. What the miners most resent is the suggestion that the mine owners’ profits should become the ijrM charge on the industry, and that the minimum wage shall disappear from the national coal milling scheme.

The miners regard the new proposals as being a reversion to the practice ol district settlements and consequently as a weakening of the Miners’ Kederat ion. Tiie only hope of avet l ing l lie biggest miners' light on record is that the owners are suggesting a c.ndereiico before July .'list., when Ihe existing agreement will terminate, and that there is a possibility ot l lie (lovermueiit intervening.