MINERS' CLAIMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 229, 24 September 1920, Page 5

MINERS' CLAIMS.

PREMIER'S SUGGESTION. PAY DEPENDENT ON OUTPUT,, WITH IMMEDIATE INCREASE. MEN AGAIN CONFER. (By Cable.—rrcss Association. -Copyright.) (Rei-eiveil 0 a.m.) LONDON, September 23. The Triple Alliance deputation to Mr. ■f.ln\ d i ieurge on the miners' demands to-day included the miners' executive, | Mr. .1. 11. Thomas and Mr. 'J. Cramp on j behalf of the rnilwayiuen, and Mr. R. Williams and Mr. 11. Gosling on behalf of the transporters. The Prime Minister was accompanied by r-'ir Robert Home, Sir Eric Geddes. and Sir David Shackletnn (Senior Adviser to the Labour Office). The official report shows that representaties of the railwaytnen and transport workers warmly supported the miners' wanes claim. Mr. Lloyd George insisted that if the miners persisted in the demand for increased wages, that demand must be submitted to a tribunal whose impartiality the miners could not challenge; hut be proposed as an alternative that the miners and mini- owners meet and agree on a scheme which would make increased wages dependent on increased output. He suggested that the level of output be fixed, all output above this level to involve extra remuneration. This level might even be fixed below the present output, thus assuring a certain increase in wages immediately. The Government was prepared to make this concession in view of the advantage to the country of securing relation between wages and output. Mr. Lloyd George urged the miners to suspend the strike notices for a week or a fortnight, while they examined with the mine owners the feasibility of the plan. The miners still urged an immediate advance of 2/, but a subsequent conference deliberated privately on the new situation created. — (Keutcr.) SECOND BALLOT PROPOSAL. REJECTED BY MINERS. (Received 12.30 p.m.l LONDON. September 23. The Triple Alliance Conference resumed to-day and ndjournel immediately in order to consider the report of the joint deputation to the Premier last night scctionally. It, is now announced that the conference of miners' delegates rejected the proposal to take a second ballot on the question of submitting the two-shilling wage claim to arbitration. It is understood that a letter from Mr. Lloyd George to Mr. Robt. Smillie was read at the delegate conference.—(Reuter.) j RAELWAYMEN'S ATTITUDE. MIGHT AS WELL JOIN IN. ; LONDON, September 23. The fateful meeting of the Triple Labour Alliance was attended by about five hundred dedegatcs, who met to-day to discuss the threatened coal strike. Late in the afternoon an official statement was issued that the congress had decided to Bend a deputation to Mr. Lloj-d George to urge acceptance by the Government of the miners' claims. The deputation had a three-and-a-half hours, conference with Mr. Lloyd George in the hope of composing the coal dispute. Nothing was settled, but apparently the proceedings were not abortive, as the deputation arranged to report to their congress to-morrow. The feeling of the delegates will most probably influence the deputation at a later meeting which is likely to be arranged with Mr. Lloyd George.—(Reuer.) It has been assumed that the railwaymen are reluctant to strike in support of the miners, but Mr. Bromley (secretary of the Engine Drivers and Firemen's Union), argues that as the railways cannot run long without coal, it would be better to strike with the miners and hasten the end, instead of expending the funds of the unions in out-of-work pay during a protracted struggle.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)