BRITAIN’S COAL CRISIS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 26 March 1926, Page 9

BRITAIN’S COAL CRISIS

Commission’s Report Accepted MR BALDWIN’S IMPORTANT STATEMENT. LABOUR EXTREMISTS THREATEN HQLD-UP. Much to the surprise of both owners ancs miners, the Imperial Government has accepted the report of the Royal Commission appointed to make inquiry into the economic condition of Britain's cos! industry. Since the publication of the report, representatives of the owners and the miners have conferred on several occasions, but no statement of their views has been published. The Government's acceptance of the report is conditional upon an agreement between the owners and the miners. As a counterblast, Mr Cook (Secretary of the Miners’ Federation) announces that the miners are preparing a general hold-up if any reduction in earnings is attempted

COAL COMMISSION’S REPORT. CONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE BY GOVERNMENT. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, M«rc-Ii LM. The Imperial Government- has accepted the report of the Coal Commission, and will legislate thereon if the owners and miners also accept it. PRIME MINISTER’S PLAIN DIRECT OFFER. BOTH SIDES INVESTIGATING. MR.COOK’S ANGRY OUTBURST. By Cable —Press Association—Cooyrictu. Australian ami N.Z. Cable Assocint.on. (Received March 25, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, March 25. Mr Baldwin’s plain direct offer took both owners and miners by surprise. Neither has disclosed its views on the settlement. 1 The owners and miners mot separately this morning, and jointly in the afternoon. In the meantime the Commission’s report is being studied by the miners’ lodges throughout the country in view of the’.delegate conference shortly. There is a tendency on the coalfields to concentrate upon the proposed wage reductions; though these do not affect the lowest paid men, while ignoring the fact that the report embodies proposals for which the miners have been agitating lor years. Mr Cook, in a speech last night, said the men would starve before they would accept any reduction. “We have already done onr hit,’’ added Mr Cook.

MR BALDWIN’S STATEMENT. ANXIOUS TO PROMOTE SETTLEMENT. By Cable—Press Association—Copyrifiht. Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received March 25, 5.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 24. The coal conference at Downing Street lasted just over two hours. Mr Baldwin explained that the conclusions of the Commission did not accord entirely with the Government’s views. The Government opposed some recommendations; nevertheless, in face of the Commission’s unanimous report, and for the sake of a general settlement, the Government was prepared to undertake iho measures and give the recommendations effect, provided the owners and miners agreed to carry cn the industry. On a basis of those recommendations the Prime Minister appealed to both parties to consider the Government's position, and consult their friends before in any way committing themselves. Mr Cook disclosed that the miners had made preparations to ensure a complete stoppage of coal in the event of the miners having to strike owing to a non-settlement by May 1. “No coal enters the country from America or Germany,” said' Mr •Cook, “and not a ton will be handled in Britain, unless the Government’s decision is satisfactory to the miners.”

SUBSIDY MUST CEASE. TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE IN ■ WORST DISTRICTS. By Cable—Press Associntion—Copyright. Router's Telegrams. > (Received March 26, 1.6 u.m.) LONDON, March 25. At the coal conference, Mr Baldwin emphasised that the subsidy must end on April 30, but if the owners : ltd miners reached an agreement by May 1, the Government would consider temporary assistance in die worst districts.

The “Daily Herald” says that any sacrifice would bring hundreds oi thousands of families down to the arvation line. It remains to bo seen whether a solution will bo found in earmarking Mr Baldwin’s provisional offer of temporary assistance for the relief of the workers thus affected. On the other side there are indications of opposition to conferring power on municipal authorities to trade in coal, to compulsory profit-sharing, State purchase of Royalties, and other recommendations requiring legislative sanction.

Newspapers and publicists generally are silent, hoping that the parties concerned may reacli an agreement, which, if effected, would bo the biggest trade settlement on record.”