COAL TRADE CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 207, 29 February 1912, Page 5

COAL TRADE CRISIS.

HOPES OF A SETTLEMENT. FURTHER CONFERENCES. MANY MEN ALREADY OUT. By Cable—Press Association— Copyright. London, February 27. Ho;>es of a settlement prevailed during the morning among the delegates, but up to the present those hopes have not b n en realised. The Premier, in the House of Commons at four o'clock, said he was unable to make a statement. i - There have been many conferences with the Premier, first by one side, then by the other. The conference between Ministers, owners and miners is still sitting. The Miners' Federation Conference, representing every district in the United Kingdom, has opened. Besides 2000 who struck yesterday an additional 22,000 miners in Derbyshire, several thousands in ■ South Yorkshire] and 8000 in Nottinghamshire have struck after refusing the Federation's request not to strike until Thursday. The men argue that with such enormous local stocks of coal there is sure to be short time after the settlement, so they may as well "play" for a time on. strike pay. Ten thousand men in Warwickskire, where the minimum wage already prevails, are balloting whether they will obey the order to strike. . London, Later. Miners and cealowners conferred with the Premier./ t

It is officially stated that an agree ment is expected this afternoon;

The conference between the miner?and mine-owners and Cabinet Ministerhas adjourned until to-morrow morning.

THE GOVERNMENT'S ACTION. MINIMUM WAGE MUST BE GRANTED. A NOVEL SCHEME. Received 28, 11 p.m. London, February 28. After the Premier's address to the mining conference Mr. Lloyd George asked several questions, including, "Who would guarantee the minimum wage when a miner takes a contract?"

Messrs. Edwards and Smelli, Labor M.P., outlined the meij's reasons for pressing for the concession of an individual minimum wage for each district, and stated that they were ready to consider the details afterwards.

The Premier then intimated that the Government had devised a scheme dealing with the application of the principle of a minimum wage, and asked the miners to appoint a committee to consider the matter.

The noting of Cabinet Ministers and the Miners' Committee lasted three hours. It is understood that the Government had great difficulty in inducing the men's representatives to consider the schemfe, which is reported to be very novel in character.

There is a consensus of opinion that the Government has, definitely decided that a minimum wage must be granted, in order to prevent some miners being victimised by being allotted abnormal places. The Government also desire that both sides shall undertake to allow the Government to act as umpire in the event of their failing to agree. When the Premier approached the masters on Thursday he suggested that the adoption of the minimum wage would affect only 25 per cent., of the men, and would not involve much increase in expenditure. Man- owners denied this. Thirty-ei™ht thousand miners are already striking, including 17,000 in York-" shire, where strikers stoned and threw bottles at a train which .was taking miners to Chesterfield. The police dispersed the rioters.