COAL STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1921, Page 5

COAL STRIKE.

DEADLOCK IN BRITAIN. TROUBLE OVER WAGES. A SUBSIDY REFUSED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, March 30. After an abortive conference with Sir Robert Horne (President of the Board of Trade), the Coalminers’ Federation announced that it is withdrawing the workers to-morrow, including the pump men. Received March 31, 5.5 p.m, London, March 30. The executive of the Miners’ Federation met Sir Robert Horne to-night in a last effort to avert a stoppage at midnight on Thursday Mr. Frank Hodges (genefal secretary of the Miners’ Federation) demanded that the State should subsidise the industry to provide means to pay wages greater than coal could at present yield. The profits of the industry should also be pooled in order that pits which worked at a loss should be subsidised. - Sir Robert Horne on behalf of the Government, said it was impossible to subsidise coal. Other great industries were in an even worse position than coal, and many workers were unable to get any employment at all. At the close of the conference the federation announced that it had been decided to withdraw all workers, including the pump men. Sir Robert Horne said this was a very grave statement. He could not believe the coal workers would allow their means of livelihood to perish. He hoped the federation would reconsider the matter, and he offered to meet the miners’ executive to-morrow. The conference then ended.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.