THE STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1920, Page 5

THE STRIKE.

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS. * CABINET SEEKS SUGGESTIONS. ' 17ANTS PEACEFUL SOLUTION. ft Telegrii*.—Press Assn~-CopjTight. Received Oct. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 19. In moving the adjournment of the Bouse of Commons in connection with the strike, Sir Robert Home (President of the Board of Trade) said that any Government which dealt directly with wage claims was always in an unfortunate and analogous position, because claims might be made by employers and employed for purely political purposes. There must be some buffer between the Government and the party making a claim, in order to resist overwhelming pressure. It was said that the miners would not trust a tribunal because of what happened over the report of the Sankey Commicsion. That was an unfair argument. The wages and hours recommended by the Sankey Commission 'were Kamediatelj conceded, though the poli< tical matter was not dealt with. Why thould not the miners submit to the tame methods of settling claims as other great trade unions? It had been Suggested that the miners should be given an advance of 2s immediately, which should be taken off if the inRreased output was not realised. He did not know what the miner.; would .■ay to that fc but there was bo indication that the Miners' Federation would tgree to it

INCENTIVE TO WORK. Under'the Sankey award the miners received an increased wage which more than covered the increased cojt of living, A disquieting feature was that •very increase in the wages of miners had been followed by decreased output The Government, therefore, decided to £ive the miners an incentive to do their best, and made a generous offer. was refused, tut the Government iras still open to every suggestion which would give a peaceful solution. Mr. W. Brace (Labor member for Monmouth, and formerly president of Ihe South Wales Miners' Federation), i>n behalf of the miners, said that until the Government gave the workers an basurance that when out of work they should have a living wage there would ►« no incentive to increased production. lie believed there was an opportunity if a settlement in a day or two. He suggested the two shillings should be granted as a temporary measure until ci permanent scheme of wage rates was fr*»ued by the Natidnal Wageß Board. Meantime, let the owners and the ro/ners Concentrate on output, because oatput !was money. The Government, lif said, 6V)uld appoint a committee to decide the proportion of profits each should. liave, otherwise the ghastly struggle fiould continue.

Mr. J. H. Thomas (Labor member fur Oefby, and general secretary of the National Union of Railway men) said that if the strike went on other trades [must be involved. Seventeen days ago a meeting of railwaymen's delegates Iras called to consider the situation, and ifter two days' debate there was only a majority of one vote in favor of not striking. The difference between the two sides was so small that a wanton i continuance of the strike was completely unjustified.

' THE PREMIER'S OFFER. Mr. Lloyd George said the Governfnent were anxious to have the dispute referred to an impartial tribunal, not (only because the miners' claims could tkui be fully considered, but because tfcii would produce a permanent settleBlent. Having regard to the interests «J the nation as a whole, the existing •/stem pf calculating wages was bad, because the miners' increased reward tore no reference to output. Indeed, ifie highest wages hitherto resulted in p lower output. There waß going to be an increase in fie world output, he said, causing a fall Lb prices. An inducement must be given to the ownem as well as to the miners to promote the industry's best lutertsts, and this should take the form lot an increased output. Regarding the proposed immediate concession, the [Premier asked what would hap)pen if the increased output bos not obtained), would the miners fconsent to the two shillings being taken iofft If they would not, the strike would In merely postponed, and the Government would incur blame for provoking It Strike three months hence. The acceptance of Mr. Brace's proposal was equivalent to a complete concession of the miners' demands. The Government Mere anxious to secure a settlement reWarding the owners as well as the miners, and unless such a solution was found to be impossible they would resist jpther claims of a similar nature. The Government deprecated attempts to rush, into temporary settlements; it *&g neeetsary in the interests of the Ration as a whole to secure permanent kdtUements, doing justice to all parties f the miners, the owners, the community, jind the entire industry of tho Country, which was dependent on coal. CONFERENCE PROPOSED. Mr. William Adamson (chairman of the Parliamentary Labor Party), who followed, suggested that the Premier, pfe his own responsibility, should sumIDon the miners and the owners to con(rider Mr. Brace's proposal. The Premier askedi whether such a conference would discuss other proposals besides that of Mr. Brace. Mr. Adamson replied that the conference should be called primarily to discuss tit. Brace's scheme, but if this was imtracticable the discussions might bo •idened. Mr. Arthur Henderson (Labor M.P. Jfor Widnes) supported Mr. Adamson. The Premier replied that the Government wejkomed any suggestion likely to lead to peace, but it would only make matters worse if the Government 4mmatately entered [a conference in jrhich one party adopted a rigid final mition. He promised to consult Cabinet )n order to consider what were the Aancea of such a conference considering the Government's proposals in gen- > The matter then lapsed.—Ans.-N.Z, !•.]>!• Assn.

, KAONC* VSPENDED. 1 • """ "\ Bkeired Oct. AO, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 19. Ofßefcl: All racing in England is susMnd«d during the. rtrilce.—An».-N.Z. ptbl» JUn.