COAL TROUBLE-

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1926, Page 2

COAL TROUBLE-

COMMONS DEBATE. Mil BALDWIN’S .SPEECH. [Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June to. Concluding bis remarks in tho House of Commons, Mr Baldwin added ti nt the coal owners have assured him Hint on a basis of eight hours there were certain districts producing half of the country’s output where the men would bo offered a continuance of their existing wages in July, August and September, while in the remainder the reduction of wages, if any, would be materially less than ten per Cent. Meantime, the Government would press on reorganisation legislation. From October, wages would be based on the industry’s ascertained proceeds. Ho ho[>ed that a substantial portion of the wages would be maintained, if actually not increased. The Ministry was preparing to introduce, in a few days, a Coal Reorganisation Bill. under which the coal Commission’s .amalgamation ideas would be closely followed. Regarding coal royalties, everybody owning mineral rights would be required to. pay another sum towards a Mineral Right Welfare Fund, the money to be devoted primarily to -a general welfare at the Pit Head. The reduction of wages could not be so drastic as to justify calling on the taxpayer to ease the adjustment. Therefore, the three millions previously offered would be more usefully spent on assisting displaced miners. Mr Baldwin continued: —“We are going on.”

Labour chorus:—“You are going out! It means' it general election!’ Mr Baldwin; “I hope that the parties will attempt to reach an .agreement by the negotiation of a treaty, rather than carry on tho unhappy dispute to the hitter end.”

. Mr V. Hartshorn (Labour) said that the Government’s proposals merely added to the existing serious difficulties. He urged the instant unification of mines, instead of waiting for three years. Tho outlook was now hopeless. This deadlock would be prolonged God knows how long. If anyone imagined that the miners would call off the strike, even after six months, he v as most mistaken.

Sir R. Horne (Conservative) asserted that an eight hour day would ieduce the costs by more than two shillings per ton. Sir John. Simon (Liberal) urged the stabilising of the coal selling agencies as a remedy. He thought that the extending of tho hours was flying in the face of the Coal Commission’s report. lit. Hon. J. R, dynes (Labour) expressed his bitterest disappointment with Air Baldwin’s speech, which, he said, would further postpone a settlement.

Sir A. Steel .Maitland (Minister of Labour), replying to the debate, said that a selling syndicate offered no solution of tho difficulty. As regards the eight hours day, the Government had left the door open, so that the parties were free to negotiate.

The Labour Members refused to allow Sir Henry Page Croft (Conservative) to speak, shouting him down for several minutes, until a division was taken.

The reduction of the vote was ie ieeted by 2D!) vote sto 138. The House then adjourned".Mr Ramsay MacDonald, interviewed, said Air Baldwin’s speech was disastrous. Presumably, it was the result ot discussions with colleague's more flinty than himself. The speech showed no glimmering of an appreciation of the problem confronting the nation. It would harden the miners to prolong tlic struggle. The Labourites intended to light this legislation inch by inch,

STARVING .MINER’S STORY

LONDON, June In,

During a Cabinet meeting, a dusty, exhausted, dismounted cyclist called at No. 10 Downing Street, and told the doorkeeper that he had cycled 136 miles from Mansfield, Nottingham, with a message from the coal miners for presentation to .Mr Baldwin. When he was told that Mr Baldwin was attending the Cabinet, he produced -a message, and asked that it ho conveyed to Mr Baldwin, and also his credentials showing his authority to go to Downing Street on behalf of the miners. He explained that the Nottingham miners bad had'only one week's strike pay, though the Derbyshire miners bad had £IO,OOO. He added that Cook, (Miners’ Federation Secretary) Jared not show his face in Nottinghamshire, where tile miners were selling their' homes to pay for his foolhardiness.”

The letter, which his Secretary took to Mr Baldwin, stated: “My wife’s and children’s plight has forced me to cycle to London. I have been five days on the road, begging bread. T appeal to you to let me and my mates resume working eight hours.” SOVIET REPLY. MOSCOW, June 15. The Soviet, in reply to tbo British note, denies that sums remit! d to tie British Trades Union Council were sent by the Soviet Government, but says they were sent bv the Central .Council of the Labour Unions. The Soviet disavows any Government responsibility beyond that involved in granting the permit to remit, the money abroad.

The Soviet points out that the Government cannot prohibit unions comprising "one million workers from -.ending money afire,ad to the aid of trade unionists in another country.