THE COAL STRIKE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10583, 14 March 1912, Page 5

THE COAL STRIKE

CABLE NEWS

(United Fresi Association — By Electric Telegraph — Copyright.) .

NEW AGREEMENT

GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE REQUIRED.

(Received March 13, 10.30 a.m.)

LONDON, March 12.. The coalowners and miners' executives have conferred with the Premier, Mr Sydney Buxton (President of the Board of Trade), and Sir George Askwith, Chairman of the Boarl of Trade's Conciliation Council. The Welsh owners decline to cancel the 1900 agreement unless the Govern, ment will guarantee that the next one will be strictly observed by tin miners.

MINERS AND THE MINIMUM.

BURKING DISCUSSION. , (Received March 13, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, March 12. Several of the newspapers, comme'iring on tho miners' exclusion of the principle of a minimum wage from discussion by the conference, point out that the Premier and 65 per cent of the owners have already accepted the principle.

LLOYD GEORGE UNABLE TO ATj TEND CONFERENCE.

INCREASED COST OF PRODUCTION. (Received This Morning, 1.5 o'clock.) LONDON, March 13. Owing to a chill, the Right Hon. •D. Lloyd-George is unable to be present at the Conference, which, after a general discussion, adjourned. It is reported that the conference is considering the schedule, district by district, the Government suggesting a compromise whenever there is a wide divergence. It is understood that the Miners Federation is determined that no districts shall return to work until there is a national settlement. The Scottish coalowners, in a manifesto "reiterating their opposition to the ,minimun,m wage,, state that,.the increase in the' cost ofproduction w... be. from two shillings to half a>, crown a ton, 'which', the consumer's' jwill have to pay. • '''

A MINISTER'S VIEWS. CAPITALISTS DENOUNCED. GRAND FEDERATION OF UNIONS (Received This Morning, 1.10 o'clock.) LONDON, March 13. The Rev. Meredith Morris, of Clydachvale, addressing the miners at Tonpentre, described the capitalists as devilishly selfish. Ho did not believe in riots, but the miners must make their case strong. He personally favoured tho nationalisation of mines and land. Meanwhile, the workers must secure a grand federation of unions.