THE MINERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 July 1921, Page 5

THE MINERS.

URGED TO RESUME.

ADVICE OF THEIR LEADERS* NOTHING MORE TO GAIN. s,. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, June 29. The miners’ executive have sent a circular to members, saying: “We have provisionally agreed to the terms of the wages settlement. This responsible step of taking power to negotiate after the recent ballot was due to our knowledge that a national pool could not be secured by a continuance of the struggle. Every economic and political factor was dead against us. This settlement represents the maximum that can be secured in the present circumstances and is an improvement upon the terms submitted to the last ballot. “When normal trade returns new principles will be embodied in the settlement to provide a more just method of fixing wages than w r e ever had before in the industry. We strongly urge you to accept the agreement.”

STATEMENT BY PREMIER.

WAGES SCHEME OUTLINED.

London, June 29. The House of Commons was crowded when Mr. Lloyd George announced the terms of the coal settlement. He Baid the demand for a pool had definitely been abandoned, and the executive had decided to recommend the men to resume work on Monday. He thought the arrangement would ensure peace for a very long period. The main feature of the permanent settlement was that it fixed a new system of remuneration, whereby the workmen shared the proceeds of the industry and thus had a direct incentive to produce. Wages would form the first charge on the industry, and not fall below 20 per cent, above the 1914 standard. For the other costs of the industry the employer took £l7 for every £lOO paid to the workmen as standard wages, and the balance of the proceeds were divided— £l7 to the owner and £B5 to the workmen. The settlement would last till December, 1922, and was then terminable on three months’ notice.

To mitigate the severe fall of wages in some districts the Government proposed to offer £10,000,000, and suggested that the reductions per shift in July should not exceed 2s, August 2s 6d, September 3s. Then the permanent arrangement would be in operation. The owners agreed to forego profits for three months. A National Board, comprising owners and men, would be set up, also district boards to decide controversies. He hoped the settlement would create new relations between Capital and Labor. He believed that if the new system was worked in a spint of goodwill, it would more than repay the damage the nation had suffered and open a new era of co-operation. Mr. Akquith said there was no reason why the principle of co-operation should not be extended. He supported the grant £10,000,009.

Mr. Clynes approved the scheme.