WELSH COAL MINES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 230, 28 September 1934, Page 7

WELSH COAL MINES.

SETTLEMENT OP DISPUTE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 2 p.m.) RUGBY, September 27. As the result of interviews which the South Wales minowners' and miners' representatives had separately with the Secretary of Mines, Mr. Ernest Brown, the prospects of a successful end to the negotiations were considerably improved. Ultimately a joint conference reached an agreement subject to reference to the constituent bodies. LOW-PAID WORKERS. JAP. INDUSTRY ADVANCES. GENEVA, September 27. The International Labour Office has published a report by an official, M. Maurette, who investigated industrial progress in Japan. This shows that while the Japanese weaver in 1922,working 11 ;iours a day, produced ISOO yards of cloth, the same weaver in 1932. working 8£ hours a day, produced 5000 yards.

M. Maurette expresses the opinion that perfection of machinery, most of which is foreign, rationalisation methods and care of workers are chiefly responsible for Japan's enormous strides in industry. He says the organisation and mechanisation are so perfect that one girl in the largest -mills supervises 30, 40, and even 50 looms.

Much of the work, however, is carried out in small factories generally. As to expense of labour, even in large factories male cotton spinners are paid only 2 - 2 d a day and women one shilling.