THE COAL CRISIS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18430, 10 July 1925, Page 9

THE COAL CRISIS.

WORLD-WIDE PROPORTIONS. INTERNATIONAL MINERS' CONFERENCE. (Bi CAELE—PRESS ASSOCIATION'—COPYBIGKT.) (RE'.TER's TELEGRAMS.) (Received July 9th, 7 p.m.) LONDON. July g. The executive of tho International Miners' Federation, when concluding its session in London, after a discussion on the world-wide coal crisis, decided to call a further meeting of Hie committee in Paris on July 28th, to decide tho form of joint international action if a settlement is not reached of the disputes in the various countries.

POSSIBILITIES OF SETTLEMENT. MR BALDWIN OPTIMISTIC. (iJBTIa'S TSLZGBAVSO LONDON, July 8

In the House of Commons, questioned regarding the coal crisis, the RtHon. Stanley Baldwin, Prime Minister, said that he thought it was clear that the possibilities of negotiation were not yet exhausted. Ho appealed to both sides to explore every opportunity for settlement. He disagreed with a Labourite who stated that tho deadlock was complete.

MINERS REMAIN FIRM. WILL NOT CONSIDER OWNERS' PROPOSALS. (KSUTWI S TBLEGBAUS.) (Received July 9th, 7 p.m.) LONDON, July 8. In tho House of Commons, in reply to a question, Mr Baldwin stated ho was not considering granting a subsidy on coal for the export trade. Replying to a communication ffroni ,tho president of the Mining Assoeiation, Mr Herbert Smith, of the Miners' Federation, expressed the belief that no good purpose would bo served by the respective sub-committees meeting ou tho mine-owners' proposals prior to the annual conference of the Federation next week, inasniuch as tho Federation had already indicated that there tvas no room for negotiations on the proposals put forward.

INDUSTRIAL EFFICIENCY. COMPARISON OF PIT-HEAD EXPENSES. (EEUTER's TELEGRAMS.) (Received July 9th,. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 8. In tho House iof Commons, on tho Ministry of Labour estimates, Mr Vernon Hartshorn drew attention' to the fact that whereas 38,000 were unemployed in tho mining industry last year, there were 301,000 last month. Ho contended that the industry must be efficiently equipped and organised. Mr G. R. Lane-Fox, replying, quoted figures in support of tho contention that tho level of efficiency was very high because, although tho wage per shift in Germany averaged 81d compared with 128 din Britain, pithead co&ts were 208 d and,226d respectively. The cessation of almost cut-throat competition Was necessary, especially in tha export trade.

THE WAGES ISSUE. EVIDENCE FOR BOTH SIDES. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATIOK.) (Received July 9tH, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, July 8. It is understood that if no settlement of the coal dispute is reached very shortly, Mr W. C. Bridgeman, on behalf of the Government, will asE tho owners and miners to meet him. if this fails, tho Government will refer tho wages question to an Industrial Court of Enquiry, in order to inform the public of the respective viewpoints.