COAL MINER'S WAGES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 464, 11 May 1912, Page 5

COAL MINER'S WAGES.

FRICTION IN SOUTH WALES

BITTERNESS INTENSIFIED. By Telegraph.—Press Association— GopyrlßlH London, Thursday. The decision of Lord St. Aldwyn, chairman of the South Wales Dißtrict Goal Board (by whose casting vote the minimum wageß of colliers in the district were fixed at 4s 2d and 4b i)d daily), created a scene at the meeting of the Board. The miners' representatives declined to accept the decision, whereupon Lord St. Aldwyn threatened to resign. The miners retorted, "That would be acceptable." It is understood that an intimation from Lord St. Aldwyn that the owners were not offering sufficient led to an advance of 2d a day being offered. Mr Vernon Hartshorn, a South Wales' miners' representative, states that no one would receive any advance by Lord St. Aldwyn's decision. If the board had been formed to intensify the bitterness already existing between the owners and the men it could not, he said, have achieved its object more successfully. WARNING AGAINST OPTIMISM. London, Thursday. Mr Asquith, speaking at the Bankers' Association meeting, said that the national debt had decreased by £65,000.,000 since 1906. The debt of Germany had increased by £83,000, 000, and that of Australasia by £ll2, 000,000 during the same period. The fall in consols was attributable to the increased areu open for .trustees, now estimated at almost £2,000, 000,000, and the demand ,for higher interest accompanying trade activity. There were signs of the industrial sky warning against complacent optimism. It was the duty of the Government and the business oft the community to solve the problem of the strikes. AN ANXIOUS OUTLOOK. COAL STRIKE MAY RESUME. London, Thursday. Only one award has been made in the lastt five weeks under the Conciliation Act. In only seven of 21 districts have the parties agreed on the selection of a chairman, and the Board of Trade has appointed the remainder. Anxiety is felt regarding the outlook. ADMIRALTY ORDERS COAL. London, Thursday. The Admiralty has given large orders for coal at Cardiff, anticipating a strike of Beamen. HIGGLING OF THE MARKET. THE BISHOP OF LONDON ON SWEATING.. London, Thursday. The Bißhop of London, Dr F. Winnington Ingram, addressing the Dioceßan Conference, said that the lasting solution of labour unrest was to get behind the higgling of the market.

The clergy ought to preach more effectually to both Bides. Wageß should be a first charge upon an indus try. It an industry required sweated labour, it would be better for the nation if it were abandoned.