COAL TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1926, Page 2

COAL TROUBLE.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] -MINERS EIGHT HOURS BILL. LONDON, June 29. In the House of Commons, the Aimers’ Eight Hours Bill was read for the second time by 355 to 61, after a stormy debate constantly and angrily interrupted the course of the debate. Amongst other charges made against the Government, Air J. Westwood (Labour) asked if Air Baldwin had two hundred thousand shares in Baldwin’s , Limited, and whether lie had interfered with the Goal Commissioners’ report by dictating what should appear in it. Other Labourites asked if a member of Parliament, .who had such a financial interest in the coal problem as Air Baldwin should be allowed to vote. AVlien the uproar subsided, Mr Baldwin said that it was an misrepresentation to say that lie interfered with the. Coal Commission’ll report. ' it was true, he said, that he held shares in Baldwin’s Limited, which represented the bulk of his investments. Ho could have become very wealthy during the war from that block of shares, hut ho had declined or had refused to invest abroad. He had received nothing from the shares for five years and he did not expect to. 'Flic conclusion of Air Baldwin’s / speech was drowned in a storm oL cheers and counter cheers. V-, LONDON, June 29. The Aimers’ Executive, after a review /if the position on the coalfields, have unanimously decided to resist any increase in the hours and the reduction in the wages.