THE STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1921, Page 5

THE STRIKE.

NEGOTIATIONS OPEN. NO REPORT ISSUED. FURTHER MEETINGS ARRANGED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn —Copyright. London, April JI. The conference of the miners and mineowners with the Government’s r presentatives as intermediaries has begun. Mr. Lloyd George opened the conference. He stated that they were there to safeguard the interests of the community by securing industrial peace. If there was only the same readiness to share losses as there was to share profits they would certainly reach an early and satisfactory conclusion. The profits were practically made out of the export trade, from which the Government guaranteed the profits to the owners and the wages to the miners. Since then there had been a slump and coal had dropped from 79s 8d per ton to 36s 6d at the pit head and the markets of Europe and South America were practically closed to business.

The Government had definitely decided not to continue to subsidise mineowners and miners out of the taxes or to abrogate the decontrol order. Within those limits the Government was prepared to Jisten to any scheme submitted for adjusting wages and profits. Tne owners found that without a subsidy there was not enough in ’he business to pay wages on the present scale It was well for them to show the grounds on which they arrived at the conclusion justifying the reduction. It was then for the miners to state their case, not merely in opposition to the owners’ figures, but to provide plans for adjusting the whole position. Mr. Lloyd George suggested that a committee of six miners and six owners should examine the situation. Both sides ■would have to face the facts. Whether it was profits or wages-which were affected the facts were there and would remain until the world adjusted itself to {he present conditions. Received April 13. 12.35 a.m. London, April 11.

Official: Following on statements by Mr. Evan Williams (owners’ representative) and Mr. Frank Hodges (minera’ representative, the Prime Minister asked to have an opportunity of perusing the two statements when the transcript of the notes is ready. The conference agreed that the report of the meeting should not be published until the parties had been able to read the transcript. Mr. Lloyd George added that he wished for an opportunity of meeting the owners and the miners separately, as a preliminary to a further joint meeting. This was agreed to and the owners meet Mr. Lloyd George at 11 a.m. tomorrow and the miners at 12.30 p.m.— Aus-N.Z. Cable Assn

GOVERNMENT S ATTITUDE. /\S SEEN BY TRIPLE ALLIANCE. MANIFESTO OF PROTEST. Received April 13, 12.35 am. London, April 11. The triple alliance has issued a lengthy manifesto accusing the Government of calculated and persistent hostility to the working classes. It is not an impartial arbitrator, but an active if secret partisan, who, while speaking of peace, behaves in a manner calculated to encourage war. In addition to calling up reservists it had adopted the Hew and odious expedient of forming a volunteer force as an instrument Against organised labor. The Government thus assumed the grave responsibility of provoking bloodshed and civil Far. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

EX-SOLDIERS’ PROTEST. NEW LIGHT ON OPPOSITION Received April 13, 12.35 am. London, April 11. The Midlands branch of the Discharged Soldiers' Federation has issued a manifesto stating: “We are not concerned with the rights and wrongs of the present dispute, but we are concerned, on behalf of the country for which we fought and which is in danger of being brought to 'he brink of ruin, by foolish and reckless action. We have already had riots in which some ringleaders appeared who led strikes during the war, others being foreigners desiring to see Britain reduced to Russia’s condition.”

The local railwaymen’s union repudiates the Lime Street (Liverpool) protest. A non-unionist ticket examiner admits sending a message at the instance of forty unionists. He states . here was not sufficient time to call a aeeting of the whole station staff. — lus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SETTLEMENT PROSPECTS.

COST OF LIVING WILL FALL. London, April 11. The fact of the miners agreeing to meet the owners is accepted as evidence that the strike will now be settled and the resumption of work at lower wages is expected to produce an immediate fall in the cost of living, with a proportionate improvement in wage values. It is anticipated the settlement will be the turning point as regards the trade depression. The Government’s intimation that it Js prepared to grant monetary assistance Jo tide over the wage difficulty in unproductive districts has greatly helped the situation. It is estimated that the strike is costing £15,750,000 weekly, including £750,000 for defence measures. Mr. Thomas, speaking to the railway and transporters’ representatives, said that in a conference with Mr. Lloyd George he pointed out that it would be a crime if a great strike occurred because at first the parties could not be brought together. The deputation left Downing Street, having succeeded in arriving at an agreement which removed the question regarding pump men. Mr. Thomas said he thought the Government was entirely right in its determination to protect the (nines. Mr. Bridgeman, in the House of Commons. said that forty pits were completely flooded, involving 16,000 workmen. It was impossible to forecast how many pits would again be workable. The amount of irrecoverable payments made to the coal industry in the five years ended March last was £14,250,000, and it was estimated that a fur- . theft two millions would be required for outstanding claims. Military and police are now guarding pie machinery at most collieries.