BRITISH COAL MINERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 116, 17 May 1924, Page 7

BRITISH COAL MINERS.

• I THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT.; BIVISION OF PROFITS. THE INCREASED PROPORTIONS (Bx Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) ( (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 16. The main provisions of the proposed coal agreement allow for standard profits ' to consist of 15 per cent standard wages, j instead of 17 per cent as at present. I The minimum rate of wages is increased to a 33 1-3 per cent on the I 101. basis. The division of the surplus ' profits is 88 per cent to wages and 12 per cent to the employers respectively, | where it was formerly 83 per cent and , 17 per cent respectively. ' No able-bodied adult's wages shall fall below 40 per cent of the lowest paid. class of day wages.— (A. and N.Z.) THE WAGES ISSUE. AGREEMENT ARRIVED AT. ■ I NEW BURDEN TO INDUSTRY.' (By Cable.—Tress Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, May 16. The conference between representatives of the coalmine owners and the j miners, in accordance with the recom- j mendation of the recent Court of In- ■ quiry, resulted in an agreement on the , subject of wages. The terms are to be I submitted to the men's delegates at a conference called for May 29. | The secretary of the Miners' Union, j Mr. Cook, states that his executive is not satisfied that the proposals will meet the full requirements of the men, although it will recommend a settlement. He still believes the' only final settlement of the dispute will be by the voluntary unification of the industry, the pooling of the proceeds or a nationalisation scheme. • The new agreement will mean several million pounds a year extra in wages to the miners, said Mr. Cook, but we shall have difficulty in persuading the men to agree to it, as they are convinced that they are entiled to a living wage equal to'that of 1914. Mr. Finlay Gibson, representing the South—-Wales coalmine owners, stated that the minimum wage agreed upon will add from 1/3 to 1/8 per ton to the cost of production, though the profit during the "period of the last agreement in South j Wales averaged only 1/1 per ton. This j was a serious position, as South Wales was entirely dependent on tho export trade, and came into competition with American and European coal. It was probable, added Mr. Gibson, | tbat many of the collieries would be unable to carfr on. Notices of dismissal had already been given to 3000 men, and | probably another 3000 would be dis- j missed at the end of next week.—(A. and , N.Z.—Reuter.)