BRITISH COAL CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 308, 22 September 1920, Page 7

BRITISH COAL CRISIS

COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC LIFE THREATENED WELFARE OF MILLIONS AT STAKE FATEFUL CONFERENCES By Telerraßli—Prew Association—Copyright London, September 2fl. The coal situation showed no change during tho week-end, but the next few days will be charged with the most fateful consequences for the country, whose economic life iu threatened with a shattering blow, involving inevitable destitution and misery for millions, Some people &\press hopefulness, based on the reported readiness of tiie Government to provide a hasty Court of Inquiry to investigate and report upon an advance iin wages in a. few days. They declare that Sunday's ' meetings in the mining districts indicated that tho men nro not anxious to strike, and admitted thut the public generally is against the miners. On tho other hand, the meetings showed that the men support the leaders. The resumed conference to-day between Sir Eobert Horno and tho miners' leaders is regarded as most critical and as the koy to the situation. To-morrow' there will meet in London the National Conference of the miners' leaders, to decide on tie question of a strike at the end of the week, and on tho following dav the railwaymen and transporters will meet to determine their attitudß in the event of a strike. A dangerous factor in regard to the railwaymen is tho widespread belief that their union funds will be <iS hard hit by a miners' striike, owing to •unemployment. doles, as if tho railwaymen themselves 6truck and the fund had to carry strike.pav; consequently thife is encouraging tue leaders to say, "Let us strike to get it over quickly and win." Meanwhile it is authoritatively declared that the Government will not depart from its present policy—that arbitration and inquiry must precede any grant of increased wages—although slight modifications in detail are possible.—Reuter.

FURTHER BALLOT FAVOURED PROTESTS AGAINST DROPPING PRICE ISSUE. (Rec. September 21, 5.5 p.m.) London, September 20. it is expactcd that the conciliatory tone of., the week-end meetings will strengthen the hands of those working tor peace in the coal crisis. It k known that a number of leaders favour the Government's final offer being submitted to a further ballot of the men, Sixty thousand. Rhonda miners protested against the national 1 executive dropping the demand for a reduction of l'Js. 2d. per ton in the price of coal, and instructed their delegates; not to participate in the conferenco pending a South Wales meeting to decide the course to be adopted. The Hid-Rhondda railwaymen rese&ided a resolution pledging their support to the miners owing to the abandonment of the 14s. 2d. domand. Mr, Brace has written that it was impossible to co forward with the full dual demand in view of the great fall in the output for the Juiw quarter. Mr. Brace asks the miners to give the executive fair play.—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn. RESPONSIBILITY FOR FUTURE ACTION TO BE PUT UPON MIMES' DELEGATES. (Rec. September 21, 7.20 p.m.) London, September 80. After Site Robert Home had Tinavailiagly appealed to the miners' representatives at the coal conferenco to accept an impartial tribunal with reference to wages, the miners' executive met privately and dispersed without again meeti/ug Sir Robert Horne,. who was waiting. It is assumed that the, whole matber will be placed beforo a national conference of miners' delegates meeting in Loudon to-morrow, when the executive will put upon the delegates ,the responsibility of deciding future action,— Router,

LIVERPOOL SHIPWRIGHTS' STRIKE STEAMERS SENT TO GERMANY * FOR REPAIRS. (Rec. September 21, 5.5 p.m.) London, September 20. Tho SaiJora and Firemen's Union • at Liverpool qtc holding up the Elder Dempster steamer Monarch, which is reported to be going to Bremen to be repaired, owing to the Liverpool shipwrights' strike. The Germans offered to do the work, cheaper. Many vessels have been sent to Germany since the strike commenced a month ago.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assa^ BROKEN HILL STRIKE LOSS OF TWELVE MILLIONS. Melbourne, September 21. Tho chairman of the Broken Hill South Company, at its annual meeting, said that the seventeen months' idleness, due to the strike, meant that twelve millions had been lost to . the indutsry. The outlook for an early resumption was hopeful asi soon aa the finding of the inquiry held by Mr. Justice . Edmunds was announced—Press Assn.