MINERS’ STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1921, Page 5

MINERS’ STRIKE.

AGREEMENT ON WAGES. DEADLOCK OVER SUBSIDY, EARLY RESUMPTION EXPECTED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn —Copyright London, June 27. The coal miners and owners have arrived at an agreement on the wages question, enabling the resumption of ■work on Monday, but they will meet Mr. Lloyd George at ten o’clock to-night regarding the Government’s £10,000,000 subsidy. Received June 28, 8.45 p.m. London, June 28. The conference between the miners and owners and Mr. Lloyd George broke jp at midnight after two houra* deliberation, without result. They will meet again this morning. Mr. Lloyd George is willing to grant the subsidy, but he insisted that the men should return to work immediately and enter into an agreem-nt to continue the present system for a definite period. The miners’ executive took a most awkward view of the Government statement. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE TEN MILLION OFFER KEY TO THE POSITION. A BAR TO SETTLEMENT. Received June 29, 12.10 a.m. London, June 28. An official statement regarding the coal conference reports that Mr. Evan Williams (owners’ representative) informed the Premier that they had reached an agreement with the miners, which he hoped would to-morrow be put into definite form with all the differences settled. But without Government assistance they could not a ’■ ply the agreement to actual practice and “therefore we associate ourselves with the miners and ask the Government to rQConside? the position regarding the £10,000,000 offer. If the Government will help till the end of September it is arranged that the period begins on October 1 and runs definitely for a year, subject thereafter to three months’ notice, thus not, terminating before December, 1922.” Mr. Frank Hodges (miners’ leader) confirmed this statement and -.added: “To get the quickest resumption of work we must have the clearest statement to . artace before our people. If the £lO,•>OO.OOO are not restored the settlement ’outlined cannot be reached.” Mr. Lloyd George said: "There is undoubtedly most serious opposition in Parliament to re-consideration of the £10,000,000 offer. I cannot give an Maswer to-night as I e require fuller iniormation regarding wages and disaficte.” — Cable Assn. COMPARATIVELY SMALL IMPORTS. London, June 27. Mr. Bridgeman, in the House of Common®, stated that the coal imported into Britain since April 1 was as follows: — From America 335,000 tons, from France 430,000 tons, from Belgium 405,000 tons. [ln 1919 Britain produced 230 million tons of coal and exported 50 million" tons. The home consumption was therefore roughly 15,000.000 ton* a month. Apart from stocks in hand, the import.® since April I have therefore only provided 1,260.000 tons towards a normal consumption of over 40 million tOM] NO COMPULSORY ARBITRATION. London, June 27. Mr. Chamberlain, ip the House of Commons, replying to questions, said he was not prepared to introduce legislation compelling the owners and miners to submit their differences to an impartial board of arbitration, whose decision 'should be binding. One hundred and sixteen locomotives had been adapted to burning oil fuel, and others were being prepared. Mr. Chamberlain also announced that if financial assistance for the miners was necessary to end the coal dispute the House would be asked to consider it at the earliest possible moment.