BRITISH COAL CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 191, 9 May 1921, Page 5

BRITISH COAL CRISIS

SPEECH BY MR. LLOYD GEORGE

? appeal to the nation TO ENDURE NO HOPE OF EARLY SETTLEMENT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. May 8, 11.45 p.m.) London, May 8. Mr. Lloyd George, epeaking’ at Maid- ■ stone, devoted the greater part of his speech to the coal strike, offering no hope of an early settlement. He said that when coal- prices were high, the miners enjoyed their share of the luck, to which they wore entitled. Now tho mines were losing, esport prices having fallen more than 50 per cent, in three months, and under tho latest Government offer they must continue to lose. "The American? are cutting us out of the coal markets,” said the Premier, "and it is impossible to raise the local price in order to maintain an artificial rate of miners’ wages, because that would entail a loss in our manufacturing trade, eventually resulting in closing down the mines. In the first quarter of this year, the mines lost twentyfive millions sterling. That cannot continue; tho Government is forced to in- ’ eiat that the industry should be Helfsupporting.” The miners’ demand for a national pool to prevent wages being reduced meant that profitable mines would bo paying towards unprofitable mines. "This is a far-reaching principle," said the Premier. "Where is it going to end? If adopted with mines why not in other industries, such as profitable Lancashire or Yorkshire factories paying tho wages of unprofitable factories in other counties? Why not make the "Daily Mail" pay tho "Daftly Hertild’e” losses? (Laughter.) That is why "The Times” advocates a national pool and the "Doily Mail” opposes it. (Laughter.) “The country is anxious to pay the miners tho highest wages the industry can bear. The Government is prepared to consider any practical settlement pro- ■ postil based on permanent, not on patched, linos. This is the second mine stoppage in six months, and the fourth threatened in the past two years. British industries cannot stand these heart shocks.

"I am told every day that we are , seeking to starve the miners into a snr- , render. I am afraid it is ihe other way about. The Miners’ Federation is seeking to starve the whole nation into a disastrous settlement of the strike, inflicting untold injury on thousands of , people not connected with mining. But I must appeal here and now to the na- , bion to enduro with the patient, stub- • born courage which piloted it through worse trouble."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. i GOVERNMENT BLAMED A PLEDGE ASKED FOR. (Rec. May 8, 11.45 p.m.) London, May 8. Mr. A. Henderson, writing in tho "Sunday Express." blames tho Government for describing tho coal dispute as a political matter, thereby making a settlement under the Industrial Disputes Act impossible. • Mr. Henderson expresses the opinion that if tho Government, recognising the need for helping the industry over an abnormal period, gave a definite pledge that until permanent wage-regulating machinery acceptable to both sides was established it would undertake to sustain wages at the cost-of- { Jiving level, work could be resumed.— I Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.