COAL TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1926, Page 2

COAL TROUBLE.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.!

MINERS’ OFFER. LONDON, Aug. 14. Although there are no definite signs of an early settlement of the coal dispute, a spirit of optimism has arisen largely owing to 51r Cook (Miners’ Secretary) altering his tone, and to tlm fact that the miners’ delegates will have an opportunity of reviewing the whole position at their conference on Monday.

slr Cook said yesterday that, if tho Government invited the miners to meet them, and if at the same time tho Government declared against longer hours and accepted a National Agreement with a national minimum wage, and if the Government also were prepared to realise the necessity of . a drastic reorganisation of the coal industry, then peace was possible. f “Meantime,” Mr Cook declared: “I ' appeal to tlio public to exert pressure on the Government to have tho collieries reopened immediately on tho pre-strike terms.” , The “Daily Telegraph’s” Parliamentary correspondent, however, affirms that tho Government- has no intention cf taking the initiative. The correspondence says that should 51onday’s conference of miners’ delegates give the loaders freedom to negotiate. the position, would l>e materially changed. There would then be no reason why the miners should not approach the Government without delay. Meantime 51r Cook emphasised t'” point that Monday’s conference will have full liberty of action, after hearing the Federation executive’s report, nml the delegates will he able to delude on a future course for themselves

MINERS NOT BEATEN. LONDON', Aug. 14

The “Daily Herald” says editorially prospects of negotiations are being endangered by a- section of the press which are cultivating the delusion that the miners are defeated and likoly to settle on any terms.

Tlio miners’ relief funds now total nearly one million sterling. The Minors’ Federation fund is £728,945, and the Women’s Fund •£175,584. The “Daily Herald” mentions that £SOO - had been received for the miners from the wood workers of Australia.

RUSSIAN SUPPORT FOR MINERS. MOSCOW, Aug. 13.

Discussions on the Aiiglo-ltussian Comitteo which met in Paris a fortnight ago to promote trade union unity-, and facilitate the entry of Russia into the Amsterdam International were far from harmonious, according to the report of 51. Andreev. Chairman of tho Soviet delegation to the Central Council of Soviet Labour Unions.

51. Andreev says the British delegation consisting of representatives of the Council of the Trades Union Congres declined to discuss the question of the assistance for the British miners which was placed on the agenda R' their approval. The British delegates demanded that the Russians should withdraw a resolution condemning tho conduct of the Trades Union Congress in the general strike. The Russians refused to do so and they declared that the Russian Labour Unions would continue to support the miners.