BRITISH COAL INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 155, 27 March 1926, Page 9

BRITISH COAL INDUSTRY

IS SETTLEMENT IN SIGHT? EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON WAGE ISSUE STRIKING IDEA OUTLINED It is understood that the British coal owners and miners have reached a basis of agreement re* specting the future of the industry, which involves the establishment of a cartel similar to those in France and Germany. By Telegraph —Press Association. CoPvbicHt. (Rcc. March 26, 7.20 p.m.) London, March 26. The meetings of the coal owners and miners yesterday were secret, but Mr. A. T. Cook (Miners Federation Secretary) made a statement that a delegate conference would not be called until the owners formulated a wage proposal. There are indications that a substantial majority on both sides is willing to accept the Commission’s report. Everything depends on the wage issue. In the meantime, the “Daily Ex--press” political correspondent outlines a striking idea which might render the Commission’s recommendations acceptable. Details are still nebulous, but it is understood that the Miners’ Federation and the Coal Owners’ Association have reached a line of agreement as. to the future of the industry, under which it is proposed that a cartel should be established similar to those in France and Germany, the miners abandoning their demand for nationalisation, while the employers accept a modified measure of work and control in the form of pit district committees. The effect of the cartel would be to weld the industry into a homogeneous whole. It would involve a drastic regrouping of pits, the establishment of a central selling agency, common ownership of wagons, possible municipal trading in coal and the elimination of the ..worst evils of the svstem of middlemen. The cartel would also seek a European agreement on the wages and hours of miners, and would have a say in housing, baths, and welfare schemes. —Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. ENDING THE SUBSIDY London, March 25.

At the coal conference in Downing Street, the Prime Minister emphasised that the subsidv must be ended on April 30, but said that if the owners and miners reached an agreement by May 1 the Government would consider giving temporary assistance in the worst districts. —Reuter.