BRITISH MINERS’ PLIGHT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 606, 7 March 1929, Page 9

BRITISH MINERS’ PLIGHT

MR. BALDWIN APPROACHED VARIOUS CURES SUGGESTED British Official Wireless Reed. 11 a.m. RUGBY, Wednesday. A joint report is officially issued of yesterday’s interview / between the Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin, who was accompanied by other Ministers, and the executive of the Miners’ Federation.

Mr. Herbert SmiUh, president of the Miners’ Federation, emphasised the low wages and the large amount of unemployment ruling? in the mining industry, and suggested as remedies the superannuation o£ older miners, the raising of the school-leaving age in the mining areas, tiro abolition of the eight-hour day, aiad an international division of foreign markets.

Mr. A. J. Cook, secretary of the federation, pressed for >a national scheme to prevent an undutiT low price for coal in consequence of competition, and for steps by the Government to secure 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 opinion that the present increase in the demand' for coal was not entirely due to the climatic condition, and it had indeed been apparent, though to a lesser degree, before the weather conditions throughout Europe had had any effect. As regards the amalgamations and other forms of organisations 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 of employed. Even with the improvement in trade there would still be a big surplus of labour in the mining areas, and in his view the most important matter to be dealt with at the present time was the transfer of surplus unemployed miners into employment in other industries.

He appealed to the officials of the Miners’ Federation to use their influence in the mining areas to ensure that full advantage was taken of the Government’s schemes for training and transferring boys and adults, in order that they might have the benefit of the opportunities that existed for employment in other parts of the country.

Mr. Herbert Smith referred to the evidence given before the League of Nations last week by Professor Tawney, in favour of an international regulation of markets. The Prime Minister promised to consider the evidence carefully.

The “Daily Herald” says the deputation was most dissatisfied with the interview.

POSITION IN N.S.W. FOOD RELIEF ORGANISED Reed. 10.45 a.m. NEWCASTLE, To-day Over 100 railway employees engaged in handling coal have been instructed to begin their annual holidays forthwith. If by the time the holidays finish the trouble is not over, the men are likely to be faced with unemployment. A number of coke-oven and blastfurnace hands at the Broken Hill Proprietary Works, Newcastle, may be paid off at the end of the week.. Food relief for the distressed miners is now being organised. The Premier of Victoria, Sir William McPherson, told a deputation that if the Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce, persists in granting a bounty to the coal industry in New South Wales in order to keep it going it will be made a test matter in the High Court. The Premier said he believed Mr. Bruce’s action was unconstitutional. The Victorian taxpayers were not going to submit to money being taken from their pockets to assist coalmining in another State, when no similar concession was available for the TficJ.orian mines.