BRITISH MINERS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1929, Page 6

BRITISH MINERS

MR BALDWIN’S ADVICE. United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) . RUGBY, March 6. A joint report, is .officially issued of yesterday’s interview between the Prime Minister, who was accompanied by other Ministers, and the executive of the Miners’ Federation. Mr Herbert Smith-, President of the Miners’ Federation, emphasised the low wages and the large amount of -unemployment ruling in the mining industry, and suggested, as remedies superannuation of the older miners, raising of the school leaving age in mining areas, abolition of the eight hour day, and international division of foreign markets. Mr A. J. Cook pressed for a national scheme to prevent an unduly low price for coal in consequence of eoinpetitin, and for steps by the Government to secure the more rapid development of processes for the scientific treatment of coal. The Prime Minister reviewed the position of the mining industry generally. He expressed the oninion that the present increase iu the demand for coal was not entirely due to climatic conditions, and had indeed been apparent though to a less degree before the' weather conditions throughout Europe had had any effect. As regarded ‘amalgamations and other forms of organisation within the industry, the Prime Minister thought these were making satisfactory progress and direct Government intervention would not be advantageous. He pointed out that the increased demand for coal had been met almost entirely by fuller employment for those on the colliery books, without any substantial increase in the number employed. Even with the improvement in the trade, there would still he a big surplus of labour in the mining areas, and in hisi view the most important matter to be dealt with at the present time was tie transfer of surplus unemployed miners into employment in other iudust-les He appealed to the officials of the Miners’ Federation to use their influence in the milling areas,, to ensure that full advantage was taken of the Government’s schemes for training and transferring boys ami adults, in order that thev might >.i\< the benefit of opportunities that existed for employment in other parts of the country.