THE COAL CRISIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 290, 4 December 1920, Page 15

THE COAL CRISIS.

EXPLORING THE AVENUES,

Hol_sS REVIVING. 'From Our special CoiTctiDoiiaen*.) LrOl_K)N. October 2«. We ilsve survived another crisis in the Labour world, for neither the railway men nor _ie road transport workers carried into effect the "down tools" threats •with which they aggravated the unpleasantness arising from the coal strike last week. Mean-while negotiations between the Government and the miners' leaders have been resumed, and the "conversations'" are being carried on in a manner trhat promises well lor arrival at a solution acceptable to both miners and the nation. All loose talk about "a light to a finish" has .been silenced, the moderate men among the miners' leaders appear to have regained ascendancy, and tinGovernment representatives from the Prime Minister downward.-* are carry ing concession and courtesy to the farthest bounds, and showing every disposition to—as the phrase goes—"explore every avenue" which may lead to peace. The issue to-day is narrowed down to the question whether the miner** shall have more money. That was the kernel of the miners' demand from the first, and it is quite clear that not one in a hundred of those who voted for a strike cared a tinker's dam about nationalisation or the reduction of the price of coal to domestic consumers. All that they really wanted was more pay, for, if possible, tho same or less work than they had been doing. The Government all along has been ready to concede a rise in wages, but has stipulated that the extra money must bo gained by increased output. Tbe dispute has narrowed itself down to this point, on which the attention of tiotb parties l.s now focussed. The hopeful feature in the situation is that the fundamental justice of the Ministerial position seems to be recognised by some of the mostcapable Labour politicians, and it would almost seem that the demand for an unconditional advance—to which Ministers take emphatic objection—is on the way to being waived.

The case between the two parties as presented by the moderate representatives stands something like this: "Give us the two shillings a shift," 6Uy the miners' advocates, "and we will arrange about an increase of production after wards." On the Government side ths proposal is somewhat different: "You can have th*} advance, and, indeed, more always provided wo have n guarantee thmt it shall be related to the improved output and dependent thereon."

This being the case tile public have surely good right to indulge in strong hopes that it will be found possible to devise some compromise satisfactory to both miners and the public without involving either party to the negotiations in humiliation or sacrifice of principle. The proposal for a datum line was nn attempt to satisfy this condition. The miners rejected ft mainly, it would appear. because they (feelined to regulate their earnings by c-Ircum—ances over which they might have no control. Their efforts, it was contended, might be impeded or even rendered abortive by inefficient, management, or by the refusal of coal owners to furnish the requisite facilities for increased production. Probably there is no substantial ground for these suspicions. But in any case they might be overcome by a scheme under which wages and earnings should be supervised by joint committees of owners, colliers and representatives of the Government.

It is understood that projects of this kind are now being examined and discussed, and it will be a very bitter disappointment indeed if we "have to be informed again that no conclusion can be reached, and that the arrest of production, which bas already caused a loss of millions, and is taking a swiftly growing toll of discomfort and suffering is to continue. The condition of affairs generally is already very serious. Tt was more or less wittily described in a brief exchange of words by friends who met in Fleet Street to-daY: —

"How's business, George?" queried one.

"13 bad," said Oeorge, whereupon a third party solemnly remarked: "De mortuis nil nisi bonum, George!" Meanwhile there is much very real distress among wage earners outside flic industries whose life blood is coal, and the small fry among traders are already feeling acutely the effect of tbe greatly ;dimimshed purchasing power of their normal customers, whilst on every hand one hears of big firms bewailing can—lied contracts, and making preparations for diminishing their wages billot. To cope in gome measure with the rapidly increasing unemployment, the Government and the local authorities in almost every centre are preparing schemes for road improvements and other works Which, though they may fn the long run be of immense value to the community, will for the time „cin k mean nothing but extra burdens, local and Imperial, on the taxpayers' sorelyladen shoulders. Tlie "economies" in train running forced upon the companies by the coal strike alone represents an addition of over two millions per week to the sum the community has to pay in conn—tion with tbe Government's guarantees to the railways, and it istated that the unemployment arising direct from the strike will add at least a million to the sum which the Poor Law authorities of tne United Kingdom normally disburse each week, even if unemployment does not greatly increase. This, however, it is bound to do if the strike lasts, for every day sees mills and factories closing down, and it is only a very small percentage indeed of the workers affected who have anything in reserve for "the rainy day." The trading community will, of course, suffer very severely, for it is reckoned that as a direct result of the strike the workers of the Old Country have already lost eijjht million pounds in wages, and it is calculated that each succeeding week of idleness in the mines will represent an average loss to the workers of not less than ten million pounds.