COAL TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1926, Page 2

COAL TROUBLE.

MINERS’ OFFER. [Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON, Sept. 28. In the House, of Commons, speaking to the motion for the adjournment, Mr V. Hartshorn' (Labour) said that all were anxious for a settlement to be effected which would lay the basis of future peace and prosperity. H "" 01 v were resumed immediately, there would be an abnormal demand lor c-oal, which would cause a rise in the prices, and then the ten per cent, reduction in their wages, which the miners now proposed, would enable the coal industry to tide over the period until the tribunal was set up which would determine an agreement based upon the Coal Commission’s report.. These proposals, he said, would not he popular. There would he no halos for anybody, hut the Miners’ Federation Executive made them in the belief that they were leciprocated by the coal owners and the Government. Supposing everything were normal, there should he a profit ranging from five pence to half a crown per ton for the various districts, so that the miners’ proposals provided an economic settlement for the temporary period. Mr Robert Smillie (Labour) emphasised that there is now severe privation in the mining districts, but be declared that the fight would go on for a considerable time unless a reasonable settlement was readied. Mr Baldwin, in rplying, referred to Mir Hartshorn's Remarks. He -said that on the ten per cent, wage roducton mentioned, not one of the coal districts mentioned would show a profit, but would rather show a substantial loss. Accordingly the Government said that these reduction proposals did not afford the basis of a settlement, because :> settlement had to be made between the two parties. Mr Baldwin went on to refer to Air Churchill's negotiations. The Labour mem her then interrupted with the remark: “They would have gone through if you had stopped away!” Disorder now followed, till the Speaker intervened, and he suggested that all members desired that the last linur of the sittings should he used to explore, further avenues towards peace. Air Baldwin, continuing, said that the Government had made a definite offer, which they hoped the miners would consider at to-morrow’s delegate inocling. Air Ramsay AlacDonald said that ho was profoundly disappointed with the Brime Minister’s speech. The Government’s offer meant the absolute surrender of the miners. Air Churchill' then spoke. He was frequently interrupted. He said that he was disappointed with the speeches delivered by the Official Opposition, which were'simply a reiteration of the statement that the Government’s latest proposals did not offer the slightest prospect of a settlement. He hoped that the violent, obdurate answer that had beep given that night did not represent the views of Messrs Cook and Smith, of the Afiuors’ Federation, who were lip against the realities of a human situation. Mr Churchill’s closing sentences wore punctuated by scoffing and jeering from file Labour benches. The House then adjourned fill the 9th. November. -MINERS’ DELEGATES SUMMONED LONDON, September 28. Tile miners’ delegates from all parts of tile country will meet in London today. Mr Cook (Miners’ Secretary) last night stated that the executive of the Miners’ Federation lias not prepared any recommendation for the delegates’ conference. The conference would consider the, whole situation. Mr Cook denied the report that lie talked to Air Churchill on Monday night. He said: “It was merely a passing handshake.” ATR CHURCHILL’S ATTITUDE. LONDON, September 28. . Describing the closing scenes in the House of Commons, the “Daily Express” says: “Mr Lloyd George put searching questions to Mr Churchill, with a viewito elucidating the Government’s offer. These questions, perhaps. were too penetrating for ATr Churchill to answer, hut the Socialists then saved him from the awkwardness because tbev rapidly lost their temper as Mr Churchill poured scorn on the futility of again dragging out terms which the miners had rejected. It was a crescendo of hot feelings until the stroke of eleven o’clock. Thereupon, Mr Churchill, shouting above the storm that he thought more of Air Cook and of Mr Smith than of the Labourites, who, he said, were seeking party capital. hanged his desnatch box and then declined to enter into any discussion of trie details of the Government’s offer.