The Strike Begins

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 208, 1 March 1912, Page 5

The Strike Begins

' THE BRITISH COAL TROUBLE. THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS. , FAVOR GRANTING MINIMUM WAGE. NEITHER PARTY SATISFIED. FURTHER CONFERENCES. lly Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 29, 10 pm. London, February 29. It is officially announced 7 that the GoTernment has informed the coal owners—(l) It is satisfied, after careful consideration, that there are gfcses where the miners cannot earn a reasonable living wage, from causes over which they have no control. (2) That they are satisfied power to secure such a wage should be secured by arrangements suitable in the special circumstances in each district, adequate safeguards being provided to protect employers against abuse. (3) That the Government is prepared to confer with the parties concerning the best method of giving practical effect to this conclusion by meats of district conferences between parties, whereat the Government will be represented. (4) That in the event of any Buch conferences failing to arrive at a complete settlement within a reasonable time, representatives of both parties and the Government will decide jointly the outstanding points, with a view to giving effect to the agreement in principle. <

The official communication adds that employers in the English federated area in Durham and Cumberland have accepted the Government's propositions, whilst" the Northumberland, Scotland, Somerset and Bristol employers have refused.

TJhe miners concurred in the first two propositions, but disagreed with Nos. 3 and 4. They were not prepared to regard the minimum wage scale adopted on February 2 as a basis for negotiations. Further conferences were held to-day. London, February 28.

iThere have been incessant conferences, and the Government is doing its utmost to formulate a settlement.

The English owners, except those in Northumberland, are willing to accept the Government's scheme, including the minimum wage. • South Wales owners object, and the Scotch owners are divided.

There is much speculation regarding the Government proposals, ranging from a rush Bill being passed enacting as a minimum basis the owners' offer, to the temporary nationalisation of the Welsh mines. Significance is attached to the action of the Scpttish delegates in instructing districts where one day's notice is required, to lay down their tools to-morrow.

The Miners' Federation passed a resolution that after the expiration of notices they would allow sufficient men to attend to ventilation and pumping, and feed the ponies in the mines. Mr. MacPherson, chairman of the Mines and Drainage Commissioners, appealed to' the miners not to allow themselves to be dragged at the heels of South Wales, when there is no dispute elsewhere. He adds that in the event of a strike the majority of mines in the drainage area will be flooded beyond recovery.

115,000 MINERS IDLE. TYKE EXPORT TRADE AT A STANDSTILL. Received 29, 12.30 a.m. London, February 29. One hundred and fifteen thousand min- ( era are idle, including 32,000 in Nottinghamshire. The export of coal from the Tyne, which sends away 20,000,000 tons annually, ra at a standstill. The Scotch owners explained to the Government that they woul dabide by the agreement made on .luly 30, 1909, whereto the Board of Trade were parties, though they were willing to be represented on a joint committee of masters and men to regulate remuneration for abnormal places and prevent injustice in exceptional cases. There is general satisfaction over the Government securing the adhesion of the employers and 60 per cent, of the miners to the principle of the minimum wage, and leaving the door open for further negotiations with the minority. A grave feature of the situation is the miners' insistence upon a definite scale of pay in place of the system of conferences suggested by the Government. The Times says there is no doubt the solution of the problem lies in conceding the m"i""nm wage, with safeguards. The Daily Mail declares that the miners having scored a moral victory, they ought to be willing to submit the case to the negotiation of the various districts. AN ILL WIND, ETC. Received 29, 11 p.m. London. February 29. The Scottish mineral burning oils have further advanced a halfpenny per gallon. The price has risen 75 per cent, in a few months.