BRITAIN’S COAL CRISIS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 30 March 1926, Page 7

BRITAIN’S COAL CRISIS.

Momentous Week Opens. STRONG APPEAL TO REASON. By Cable —Press Association —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. (Received Mnveli 29, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, March 29. The momentous week of the coal crisis was ushered in by a .senes ol speeches by tho Labour leaders as an indication of the trend of trade union opinion. . The Labc»r victory at Bothwell is claimed as evidence that the workcix arc determined to resist a cut m wages. Mr Sullivan, in an interview, -says that other workers have rallied to labour, realising that a reduction m miners’ pay will be a .signal to the employers to reduce wages in other trades. ~ Mr Cook, speaking at Abertridwr, said that means must be found to assist the industry' outside a reduction of wages, longer hours, and district agreements. “AAe cannot pay' the price of sacrifice any longer. We rie going to clear out the royalty owners without compensation, I hope.” Mr,J. H. Thomas (Railway representative) speaking at Dunfermline, said the test of success of trade union leadership was not to bring people out on strike, nor promise them the moon when they could not even give bread and cheese. 'When there v.ere signs of trade improvement, the coal crisis lmd arisen. Low and scandalous as wore the miners’ wages, the fact stood out that a great number of pits were producing coal at nil uneconomic price. It was a. good sign that both sides were desirous of finding a settlement.

Sir William Joynson Hicks (Home Secretary), said: “We stand on the edge of a precipice. It depends on employers aitd employed whether there is a trado povjya!, or whether a strike or lockout will destroy all hope of revival, possibly for years.”