MINING INDUSTRY.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19890, 20 May 1936, Page 7

MINING INDUSTRY.

GOVERNMENT HUMILIATED. MAY NOT RETRIEVE POSITION. COAL MINES BILL DELAYED. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright LONDON, May 19. The Government suffered what all the newspapers describe as a humiliation in the House of Commons last evening. The President of the Board of Trade, Mr Walter Runciman, In moving the second reading of the Coal Mines Bill, described the amendments the Government proposed to make. Labour members protested that they were confronted with a new bill which made concessions to the owners’ point of view, indicating that the Government did not know its own mind. Mr Winston Churchill supported the Labour members’ view. Mr Baldwin surrendered and promised another day for a debate. In the meantime he would circulate a White Paper explaining the concessions. The Times comments that the Government suffered a detraction which It may not be easy to retrieve. LAW HELD UNCONSTITUTIONAL. SETBACK TO THE GOVERNMENT. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright WASHINGTON, May 18. The United States Supreme Court to-day by a six to three decision declared the Guffey coal law unconstitutional. Mr Justice Sutherland, speaking for the majority, held that the Federal Government had no power to regulate hours and wages in the mining industry and gave the reversal of the National Recovery Act as a precedent. In accordance with the interests involved sentiment varies toward the decision. The bituminous mine operators express satisfaction at a setback to the Government’s effort to regiment the coal industry. Organised labour, on the other hand, considers the decision discouraging and expresses the opinion that a sharper struggle in the economic field is the only course left in order to win its demands for tlie recognition of collective bargaining.