REJECTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 101, 29 April 1921, Page 5

REJECTED.

GOVERNMENT'S OFFER, SUBSIDY OF TEN MILLIONS, TO STABILISE MINERS' WAGES J LIMITING THE REDUCTION. i I EFFECT OF FLOODING OF j MDfES. i . (by '':ih\-. Press Association. - Copyright.) j I ■ RereircO li.::n a.m.i j LONDON. April 2S. I Tin' minors. i>y an overwhelming majority, rejected i-liu liovernnwut's offer of a subsidy of £10,000,000, spread over four months, which would mean that no miners 7 wages would be reduced more than 3/ a sliirt during M;iy and June. A Scottish mining expert expresses the opinion that iiO juts, in Scotland will never be pumped dry. wliil,- those saved will be dangerous fur months. j The owners arc convinced that, less than half the Scottish miners will find work when the pits are reopened.— (A.: and X.Z. Cable.) NEW AND FINAI. OFFEK. REDUCTION OF 2/O A SHIFT. HOPE OF ACCEPTANCE. LONDON, April 2S. The miners' rejection of the. Government offer was made on the grounds that | it was inadequate, and provided only starvation wages. Sir Robt. Home (Chancellor of the Exchequer) thereupon hurriedly summoned Mr. Lloyd George and secured authority to increase the Government's offer ot a subsidy to ten millions for three month?, meaning a wages reduction of 2/6 instead of 3/ a ! ehift. j Mr. Lloyd George declared this the ! final word. The general hope is that the | miners will accept the offer. i Sir R. S. Home (Chancellor of the Exchequer) conveyed the Oovernrvnt's' earlier offer to the miners" executive at the Board of Trade this afternoon. He said that in order that reduction of! wages in May should not be more ' than 3/ and in June 3/6 a shift, he offered to grant £10,000,000. ol , which the remainder should be divided | between July and August, two-thirds j being used to stabilise wages in July. Sir Robt. Home emphasised that the Government was only making the proposals in the belief that a durable settle- I ment was being made which would last ' until August, 1921, and thereafter be! terminable at three months' notice. j Mr. Frank Hodges, secretary of the Miners' Federation, replied: "The proposed reduction brings us a considerable distance below the subsistence wage. The Government is trying to soften the blow for us. but the possibility of a fall of wages by 4/ in July and to 4/6 in August is more than we can agree to." Mr. Hodges, at this afternoon's conference, said: "We want a long period of peace and prosperity, and we don't want constantly recurring strikes. We know that if our men ars to enjoy good conditions of life we must have peace." Mr. Hodges then indicated tliat before the final reply the executive would submit tie matter to. the Miners" Federation I Conference. j After an hour and a-halfs discussion 1 the Conference resolved to reject the Gov- j ernment's proposals, as they do not concede the fundamental principle for which they stand. Accordingly the conference terminates. The delegates will report to the men under the present Government offer. After the conference many delegates appeared very disappointed, and sadi that the majority in favour o" rejecting the Government terms was not large, but was ] sufficient for the purpose. — (A. and N.Z.)