MINERS' WAGES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18070, 12 May 1924, Page 9

MINERS' WAGES.

REPORT OF COURT. PROFITS INADEQUATE TO MEET DEMANDS. (BY CABLE—PSKSB ASSOCIATION COPTBIOHT.) (BIUTBB'S TSUSQBAStS.) LONDON, May 9. The report of the Court of Enquiry on coal-miners' wages Pays:— "It is really undisputed that tlTe agreement of 1921 failed to provide on adequate wage in many of the poorer districts. The real issue is far more fundamental. The miners assert that they are entitled to secure a full living wage for all engaged in the industry, primarily out of the total profits. If these are inadequate, they contend that it rests with the mine owners, by altering the organisation of file mines and the disposal of produce, to increase the amount, and, if still insufficient trt pay the wage, the character of the mining industry, which is the founds tion of all other industries in the country, requiries that other more fundamental measures should he adopted. "The Court is not concerned with the merits of this contention: It is a political question. The Court is unable to express an opinion with regard to the economic possibility and the effect of increasing the pried of coal or reducing costs sufficiently to enable the present claim tp be met, but from the figures before the Cburt it appear# that under present, conditions the profits in particular coal districts are unable to meet tho miners' claim fully. The owners showed that the aggregate profit for the whole of tho coal fields from October, 1921, to December, 1923, amounted to £97.318,000. "It. is estimated that had the miners' present claim operated during this period & 102,500,000 in additional wages would have been paid. In any case, the wage of 2s pot shift Would alone cost annually as much as the whole profits for 1923." The report suggests the resumption of negotiations with a view to the modification of the terms of the 1921 agreement which appears to offer an immediate and practicable means of effecting the new wages agreement. The opinion is expressed that , # the provision for the minimum wage should have precedence cftilir the distribution of profits, tut tho Committee cannot Specify conditions regarding the baeis upon which .that minimum should be fixed.