A HITCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 October 1920, Page 5

A HITCH.

BRITISH COAL CRISIS. OUTLOOK GRAVE AGAIN. ... i *THE CONFERENCE ADJOURNED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Get. 23, -5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 27. An eleventh hour hitch over the question of & guarantee of a non-recurrence of trouble resulted in a grave crisis which will possibly smash the agreement, The conference adjourned till tomorrow.—Time* Service. Received Oct. 28, 7.30 p.m. London, Oct, 27. The special Trade Union Congress, which has been summoned to discuss the general situation in expectation of a. coal decision, was unable to proceed, but a resolution was carried condemning the Emergency Powers Bill now before the ' Hou.se of Commons. It.was decided to prepare for a meeting at any .moment if action was necessary.

All parties to the coal negotiations are preserving the closest secrecy. It k not known definitely what is causing the delay in the final acceptance. The Government had a scheme drafted this morning, which the coal owners accepted, and it was then shown to the miners. It was understood they accepted the principles, and the Premier was to announce the terms in the House of Gonu&oßg to-night.

' Unexpectedly, after further discussions, it was found necessary to adjourn until to-morrow. One explanation of the sp-cajled hitch is that the Government wants the position reviewed after the scheme has been tried for one month, whilst the miners want a three months' trial. Another report states that the South T?ales miners are adamant thereon, but no authoritative .statement has been made by any side. — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. REASON OF THE HITCH. MINERS' NEW PROPOSALS. Received Oct. 28, 9.30 p.m. London, Oct. 28. The Daily Chronicle states that the hiteh is due to the miners' executive advancing new proposals at the last 'moment, relating to the thorny question oi coal values, and the time when the wages advance is to be reviewed. The new complexity is due to South Welshmen, as Messrs. Smillie, Hodges, and Smith are prepared to accept tho agreement which was drawn up. j The Government representatives consider the new proposals quite different ] to any submitted earlier.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

A SERIOUS POSITION. SOUTH WALES THE TROUBLE. Received Oct. 28, 9.55 p.m. London, Oct. 28. The Emergency Powers Bill was read A thifli time in the House of Commons by 238 votes to 58. Some newspapers assert that the misers claim the whole margin of profit left on the increased coal production, after the masters' statutory profit* are deducted. It is generally agreed that the hitch is serious, and that it is attributable to the attitude of South Wales. Mr, Cook, the Rhondda miners' leader,' addressing a mass meeting at Perth, said that while the men were anxious for a, settlement, they would rather a hundred times hrfVe no increase than accept an increase which was only a sop to buy over the federation, and tie the men down to the present iniquitous system. The question of. future regulation of wages was far too important to be left to Mr. Lloyd George, and three o* four miners' leaders in South Wales had laid it down that peace could only lome by the unconditional concession of the two shillings, and if there was any ieviation, it must come from the men and not from the leaders.

The meeting carried a resolution in j Itcior of the withdrawal of all labor on' l the 30th inst. if no agreement is come to.—Aue.-N.Z. Cable Asan. { SOVIET NEWS FACTORY. London, Oct. 26. A wireless message from Moscow has been picked up which stated that the coal strike had compelled 1 the British Government to flee from, London under oilitary protection, and that thousands if factories were closed. ,