BRITAIN’S COAL CRISIS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 5 April 1926, Page 9

BRITAIN’S COAL CRISIS

Reception of Commission’s Report WIDE GULF BETWEEN PARTIES. THREATS OF BIG INDUSTRIAL UPHEAVAL'. Both the Mining Association (representing the owners) and the Miners’ Federation have issued! their views on the report of the Coal Commission. I independent opinion discerns considerable difficulty In harmonising the wide divergence of opinions issued by the contending parties. The Secretary ef the Miners’ Federation declares that a serious crisis Is inevitable, which will have an international significance.

“WORSE THAN LAST JULY.”

MINERS’ VIEAV OP OWNERS’ OFFER. THREATS OF BIG UPHEAVAL. By Cable —Press Association —Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received April 4, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 3. Tlie Miners Secretary (Mr A. j. Cook, in a speech at Pontefract, said: — “It is dear the coal-own-ers are using tlie opportunity to declare war against, the mining community. I say most plainly and calmly that a serious crisis is inevitable. “Tlie owners proposals are worse than last July. “We meet the Council of the Trades’ Union Congress on Thursday, and there is no reason to doubt they will stand by us as they did in July, when we beat back all opposing forces

“Tlie crisis is not even national; it is international.”

COMMISSION’S RECOMMENDATIONS.

ATTITUDE OF OWNERS. MINERS ISSUE STATEMENTS. By Cable —Press Association —Copyright. Australian auct N.Z. Cable Association. ' LONDON, April 2. The official statement of the ccalowners’ proposals on the Royal Commission’s report, appends replies to the Commission recommendations ad seriatim. The replies to a large extent express agreement or acquiescence with the recommendations, including willingness to engage in national as against district discussions, which they strongly advocated. The owners are of the opinion that, the recommendations regarding State ownership of minerals js a Parliainentary question. They agree that the methods or payment of men not employed at tile face should be revised, so as to give them a direct interest in the output. They recognise that the miners will not entertain a proposal tor longer hours, and they therefore wish to discuss recommendations that tne definition, of “working time” shall Be weekly instead of daily, and greater flexibility in working hours. The owners consider that the most urgent matter is the settlement of tile minimum percentage on tho basis rates, and the amount of subsistence wage.

Each disVtict Miners’ Federation Executive has issued a statement on the two days’ conference with the owners, saying that the latter refused to intimafe that they proposed to pay Is od ;

oxceptv to say that there would be heavy reductions. Tho Executive describes tlie owners' views on the Commission's report as indefinite, and considers that tno refusal to consider the fixation of a national minimum percentage, and insistence that all wages being a district concern, ponstitutes an almost insurmountable obstacle to an amicable seto ernenc. They assume, in the absence of definite proposals for a minimum percentage, that the owners’ position is the same as last July, and tho consequential wage reductions vary from Is to 5s daily. The Executive unanimously decided not to consent to a further lowering of wages, and the abolition of the national minimum percentage. MOMENTOUS GATHERINGS THIS WEEK. Miners call delegate CONFERENCE. By ' Gable—Press Association —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association, LONDON, April 1.

Tho Miners’ Executive has decided to call a national delegate conlerenco of the Miners’ Federation m London, on April 9 .to consider the. written proposals of the mine-owners, handed to the Executive tins morning. The two 'sides will meet again after the miners’ delegates 'have expressed their views on tho proposals. Prior to April 9, the Executive ana Federation will confer with tho industrial Committee of the Trades Union Congress.

STATEMENT ISSUED BY OWNERS. DEFINITE PROPOSALS FORMULATED. By Cable—Press Association —Copyright. Australian anti N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, April 2. A memlier of Pile Minors’ Executive stated that the miners had given a reasoned reply to the owners’ proposals, but he emphasised that they were not likely to be acceptable, and there was every prospect of a serious crisis arising. ft is learned that Mr Evan Williams, Chairman of the Mining Association, informed tile Miners’ Executive that the owners, Tor the sake of peace and a settlement, were prepared to negotiate an agreement on national linos, but the industry must stand on its own foundation, on an economic basis, and coulcl not be continued by means of Government subsidy. The owners were emphatically of the opinion that the extension of working hours was an essential condition to restoring the industry. He emphasised the necessity for increased output, and prolposed that each district should lix its own minimum percentage. A National Board should settle the question of the national minimum over and above the district minima. The present national minimum of 33 1-3 per cent, need not necessarily be maintained. The owners opposed compulsory amalgamation, but were prepared to consider voluntary amalgamation, and re-organ-isnticn of the industry. They were opposed to any change in regard to byproducts and were agreed that nationalisation was unprncticable.