GOVERNMENT’S TERMS REJECTED

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1926, Page 13

GOVERNMENT’S TERMS REJECTED

ADVERSE MAJORITY OF HUNDRED THOUSAND DELEGATE CONFERENCE TO DECIDE NEXT STEP LOCAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH OWNERS MAY CONTINUE Contrary to expectations, the rank and file of the miners have voted against the acceptance of the Government’s terms for a settlement of tlig strike. A conference of miners ’ delegates was to have been held yesterday, and upon the decision arrived at then will depend whether any further approach will be made to the Government, or the national negotiations be broken off and the strike continue,

London, Nov. 18. It is estimated that the unexpected swing of the miners’ vote will result in a majority of 100,000 against tbc acceptance of the Government’s proposals for a settlement. The secretary of the Miners’ Federation, Mr. A. J. Cook, declared that the future policy of the miners rested entirely .with the delegate conference on Friday. He said the only thing certain is that the miners have overwhelmingly rejected the proposals. The miners’ delegates have returned from the coalfields. It is known that no recommendation will be made at tomorrow’s conference, which will, therefore, be free to pursue its own course.

Received Nov. 19, 8 p.m. London, Nov. 19. The Daily Herald says that the miners’ delegate conference will no doubt direct that the Government be informed of the resulting the voting, and the conference will have to decide whether any further approach shall be made to the Government or the national negotiations be abandoned. • One of the alternatives which is being considered is that the districts proceed with local negotiations and report the results to a further national conference. In any ease the vote of the rank and file is regarded as a decision to fight on for honourable terms, and the policy will be determined in that light.