BRITISH COAL CRISIS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 August 1925, Page 2

BRITISH COAL CRISIS

settlement railed as big VICTORY FOR UNIONISM.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

LONDON. July HI

Air Baldwin’s .settlement of the coal crisis is generally hailed as a big victory for trade unionism in general, and for the miners ill particular. The negotiations during the morning lay between the Government and the coal owners, a.s the trade union leaders resolutely claimed that the questions of hours and minimum wage were outside the limits of negotiations. Mr Baldwin and Air Churchill met the owners at mid-day. There were several anxious hours until four o’clock when Mr Baldwin was due to report to the House of Commons. It is understood that Air Churchill throughout was omphalic that the Government had mi intention of giving the coal industry a blank cheque. There was also the question of how far the owners are going to reopen 508 pits already closed, and it is still not known how these will he aflectcd. The final settlement followed the lines of the subvention that was granted to the mines in 1921.

FORM OF THE SETTLEMENT

FOR NINE AIONTHS. LONDON, August 1. The coal settlement takes the forn of the Government providing funds for the next nine months to enable the mine owners to continue to pay wages on the basis of the 1921 agreement. The industry lost £1 .500.000 in the month of June, so it is assiimej that the subvention will cost the Government from ten millions to twelve millions for nine months, though the actual amount of it will depend on the course of trade between the months of August and May, 1926.

Air .). 11. Thomas. ALP., the Railway representative, is said to have been ail important go-between during the later stages of the negotiations, lie acting as an unofficial liaison officer as between the Government and the trade unions'. When matters were at their worst last night, there was a consultation between Air Thomas and Air Churchill which was greatly influenced by the fact that, if they did not keep the mines going, the country would he forced to pay many millions in poor relief. AIR BALDWIN'S AXXOUNCEAfEXT. LONDON. July 31. The House of Commons was crowded and cheered the Premier when lie entered. Mr Baldwin announced that the mine owners’ notices had been suspended lo a fortnight. The men had been ordered hv their Executive to remain at work. In the House of Commons Air Baldwin stated that a provisional agreement had been reached with the minenwiiers. subject to district confirmation. The Alines Executive were sending out the following telegram : “Notices suspended. Continue working.” Mr Baldwin added that, if there was any local hitch, owing to the lateness of the hour at which the settlement was reached, lie trusted that all parties would co-operate to remove it. Mr .1. H. C'lyiies expressed pi, vov\ groat sense of relief. Mr Lined George associated himself with Air Clyiics' words in regard to relief, lie fell that the whole community would he glad that this darkcloud had not al present broken upon British industry. Asked regarding the conditions reached. Air Baldwin said that negotiation, had only concluded within the last live minutes. Mr Churchill won Id have certain infoi'inutiou which would he pul'li'hed 10-night. The unit'could 1.,' di,‘ iis-ed. if lieco-ary • next week, probably on Thursday. THE INQUIRY'. LONDON. August 1. Air Cook (Mines Secretary) stated that the miners’ wages and conditions would continue the same until the spring, a term of at least nine months during a sitting of the Commission of Enquiry into the coal industry. Tlu- Trade Union’s Congress Committee has circularised the trade unions, announcing that the coal owners and the .Miners’ Federation have accepted the Government’s proposal. Therefore the embargo oil the movement of coal would he withdrawn, work tn he continued by all. LONDON. July HI.

The Secretary of the British Al inert?’ Federation, Alt" Cook, commenting on the settlement, has issued the following statements: “AYc have been able to maintain before the whole community the fact that the mine workers are underpaid; and the Government have been compelled to recognise that the coal industry requires a complete reorganisation. AA e shall enter into the inquiry unfearingly. The struggle proves the power ol trades unionism.” I X DFSTII lAL PROBI.KAIS. LONDON'. August 1. \t a meeting id the Railwaymen, Mr Cramp, presiding at tne final session. did mil claim that the ecal settlement was a complete victory, hut they had something of a respite which was going to lead to an acknowledgment that the workers were entitled to subsistence belorc any other charge on industry. There were difficult times ahead before the problems of mining, transport, textile anil oilier industries were solved. They would not he solved by strikes. Labour mtisL use its own brains in solving the problem of reorganisation of tile ownership of industries. LOX DON. August 1. Air Cook the .Miners Secretary, has received letters and telegrams from trade unionists all over the country, congratulating him oil the groat initial triumph of solidarity.

Air Cool; has issued a manifesto describing the settlement as being merely an armistice. Tile great issues, he says, must still he faced, including that of the complete re-organisation of the coal industry: the* elimination of royalty and other private ownership, to prevent the exploitation of the consumer and to give the nation a return for its ton million subsidy. LONDON, \ugit.-t 1.

The Chairman of the South AVales mine owners declared that if the country was coerced it would he a disaster. and only deferring the evil day. The President of the Cardiff Chamfer. of Commerce, interviewed said that if the coal trouble needed a subsidy, so did the steel, the shipping and other industrii s. PRESS COAI.AfFXT. LONDON. August 1. The “Daily Telegraph” says: “AA’e do not blame the Government for yielding. The pistol was at their heads and ;h<‘ virtually had no choice. It is an uneasy peace which has been purchased. hut it i- worth pitying to avoid a coal stoppage, which must have developed most rapid I v into a national strike.” LONDON. August L “The Times” says:—“The coal eolation is a victory for common sense, and not for any of the parties concerned. It was the choice of the lessor of two evils-, ft was right in the circumstances. hut if the problem of re-

storing the. industry to a sound position is unsolved, the temporary relief will have done more harm than good.” LONDON, August 1. Commenting on the settlement in tho coal trouble the “.Morning Post’s” political correspondent says;—“The Cabinet’s reversal of its anti-subsidy policy is resented by large numbers of Conservative Commoners, whose comments in the lobby are forcible,” The “.Morning Post” says editorially: “Peace has been brought at the price, not of money only, but of principle. and this cost in money and principle may bo more ruinous than the crisis which it avoided. To-day, it is the mines; to-morrow it may be the ralw ays; thou the docks, the iron, the steel, or tho shipbuilding work.” LONDON, August 1. The “.Daily Alail” describes the coal settlement as ''a victoiy* of violence It says: “Britain means to Is: ruled hv it 4 ow n properly elected Parliament, and not by Trade Union wire-pullers wlui are carrying out the orders of Zinoviefl. and who imagine themselves to he little Tmtskys and Tennis.” The “Dailv X-ws” says: “The Government has taken the right course, hut it has not brought peace, and cartn.tiniy not honour. Tt has only brought time, the use of which will test the value of the bargain. The “Daily Chronicle” declares: This settlement is the price of Government indolence, and is the sequel to months of neglect. It was as c-lear as daylight that the situation could not ho saved unless the Government intervened on behalf of the nation to provide the necessary conditions for the working of the mines efficiently, economically and productively. LONDON. August 1. The “Daily Herald” says: “It. is tin- biggest victory that the i.abour movement has ever won. Both Afr Baldwin and the coal owners have done what they declared they never would do. The victory was won by the solidarity of labour, and, if it chooses, Labour can use this giant strength to gain everything on which its heart is set. There is no fear that such strength would lie used tyrannously.”