BRITISH MINERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1921, Page 5

BRITISH MINERS.

SLUMP IN THE TRADE. ORAVE UNEMPLOYMENT. SUBSIDY ON WAGES. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyrlgtt. Received Sept. 29, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 29. The executive of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain was compelled to suspend the ordinary business of to-day’s meeting in order to discuss the grave unemployment conditions in the industry, owing to the absence of trade and the lack of orders closing unremunerative pits, and other causes. It was resolved to request the Government to devote £3,000,000 of the unexpended balance of the £10,000,000 subsidy to assisting wages in October and November, when the permanent scheme begins to operate.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. QUESTION OF WAGES. PERCENTAGE ON PROFITS. Received Sept. 29, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 28. A deputation of the South Wales Coal Owners’ Association interviewed the Mines Department to-day relative to the wages percentage dispute. The department deferred its reply. The owners afterwards issued a statement declaring the percentage payable by the owners was decided upon under a certificate which did not disclose the profits, but only stated the percentage of wages payable. The owners later ascertained that the total profit surrenderable did not exceed £325,000, upon which they contended that the official instruction that they should pay a percentage of 97, as against 75, was ultra vires. The owners say they have been ordered to pay in wages a larger sum than they received for their coal.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.