MINERS' CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 September 1920, Page 5

MINERS' CRISIS.

THE PROSPECTS BRIGHTER. WAGES THE MAIN ISSUE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Sept. 0, 7.45 p.m. London, Sept. 6. Though it is improbable the Trade Union Congress will attempt bridgebuilding between the Government and the miners, as the miners are averse, nevertheless manoeuvring for peace is going on, and the prospects are brighter. Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P. (general secretary of the National Union of Railway men), speaking at Portsmouth, said that no section of the community has a right to hold the nation to ransom. The miners repudiated the statement that this strike was for nationalisation; that would be settled at the ballot-box. The miners had received smaller advances than any class in order to meet tite higher cost of living. Many thought it would be necessary to fight Labor sooner or later, but Mr. Thomas appealed to those concerned to hesitate before embarking on a mad gamble. Mr. Frank Hodges (general secretary of the Miners' Federation) and Mr. R. Smillie (president of the Miners' Feder- | ation), interviewed, say the miners will not agree to submit their wages claim to an industrial court. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable | Assn. - A COMPROMISE POSSIBLE. London, Sept. 4. Probably the Miners' Federation will reply to Sir R. Home's conciliatory statement, thereby paving the way for negotiations. T' is believed that, if the federation ab. Joned the demand to reduce the price of domestic coal, little difficulty would be experienced in arriving at a satisfactory compromise on the wages claim. It'is reported that the federation i 3 ready to consider any reasonable offer from the Government and submit it to a miners' ballot. Preliminary steps are already being taken for another ballot.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.