THE COAL REPORT..

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1926, Page 1

THE COAL REPORT..

MR BALDWIN’S OFFER. MINERS PREPARING FOR STRIKE [Australia & N.Z. Cable As socuatiou.] LONDON, M: arch 24. The Coal Conference at Downing Street lasted just .over two .Lours. .Mr Baldwin explained that the conclusions of the Commission did not entirely accord with the Govconment s views. The Government were opposed to some of the rccominendatio ms. Nevertheless in the face of the Commission’s unanimous report, and for the sake of a general settlement. Hhc Government were prepared to undertake the measures, and to give the recommendation effect, provided tl tat the owners and the miners agreed to caiiy on the industry on the basis of those recommendations. The Premier appealed to Do*tli parties to consider the Government’s position, and to consult their friends before in any way committing themselves. LONDON. Maveil: 25. Mr Baldwin’s plain, direct oiler to adopt and legislate upon the Coni Commission’s report took both the coal owners and the miners Dv sure prise, hut neither side, has disclosed its views thereon. The owners and the miners met separately this morning and met jointly in the afternoon.

Meantime, tllic Commission’s report is being studied by the miners’ lodges throughout the country in view of their delegates’ conference .shortly. There is a tendency on the coalfields to concentrate upon the proposed wage reductions, 'though these would not affect the lowest paid men, the miners tending to ignore the fact Hint the report embodies proposals for which the miners have been agitating for years. Afr Cook (Miners’ Federation Secretary) in a speech last night, said that the men would starve before they would accept any wage reductions. He added: “Wo have already done our hit!”

The "Daily Her.uld " says:-—“Any wage sacrifice would bring hundreds of thousands of fnmillies down to the starvation line. It remains to bo seen whether a solution will be found in Air Baldwin’s provisional offer of temporary assistance for the relief of the. workers tfuis affected. On the other side. There are indications of opposition to .the conferring of power on the municipal authorities to trade in coal, also to compulsory profit sharing, to the State pruchase of royalties, and to the other recommendations requiring legislative sanction.” The newspapers so far published are generally silent, hoping that the parties concerned will reach, an agreement, which if effected, woculd be the biggest trade settlement oil record. The Miners’ Federation Secretary, Mr Cook, has disclosed that the miners have made preparations to. ensure a complete stoppage of coal in the event of the miners having to strike owing to there being no .settlement by May ‘ Ist. No coal is to enter the country from America, or Germany, and not a ton is to be bandied in Britain, unless the Government’s decision is satisfactory to the minors.

COAL CONFERENCE. LONDON. March 25. Mr Baldwin emphasised the subsidy must he ended on 30th. April, but if the owners and miners reached an agreement by Ist. May the Government would consider temporary nssitnnee for the worst districts.