LEADERSHIP OF MINERS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 27, 27 October 1926, Page 11

LEADERSHIP OF MINERS

“ LAMENTABLY INCOMPETENT ’’ DISPUTE PROLONGED TO SAVE FEW, MEN'S FACES DEBATE IN HOUSE OF COMMONS In a debate in the House of Commons on the coal dispute Mr. Baldwin said the leadership of the miners during the last few months had been lamentably incompetent, and so long as the affairs of this great industry had to be negotiated between the personalities who had attempted negotiations thus far there would, not be much hope of a settlement The Under-Secretary of Mines declared that the purpose of the prolongation of the dispute was simply to save the faces of a few men at the top.

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(Rec October 26, 7.50 p.m.) London, October 25. • A .special sitting of the House of Commons has opened to renew the Emergence Regulations till November 9,"when the ordinary session will begin. Lieut.-Commander J. M. Kenworthy took his scat on the Labour benches. Mr. J. R. Clynes (Labour) said it was deplorable that there should be no statement from the Government in connection with the strike; nothing but another profitless debate. 1 hough thousands had been driven back, the miners would not surrender, except to the pressure of starvation. He appealed to Mr. Baldwin to take immediate steps to- procure an atmosphere, leading to peace. Mr. Llovd George appealed for a return to ' Mr. Churchill’s proposals, which were most likely to produce an honourable peace. Lasting peace .was not to be procured by driving the men back at the point of starvation. Mr. Baldwin said the country would be asked in due time to give judgment on the events of this year, and when the time came it would face the position. The leadership of the millers during the last few had been 'lamentably incompetent. Every Government offer bad been turned down. Thev admitted failure to that extent. It was a tragic state of things. It would be wrong to make-believe that negotiations were in progress when there were none. The Government s proposals had been rejected, and >t had no further proposals to make. Ihe onlv thing he was quite clear about as to the future was that, so long as the affairs of this great industry had to be negotiated between the personal!ties who had attempted negotiations thus far, there never would be much hope of a settlement. Lieut-Colonel Lane-Pox, I nder-bec-retary for Mines, replying on behalf of tlie Government, said that if the miners really wanted to settle, it was open to them to make provisional settlements in the districts. This could be done in a few days if the local leaders were allowed to do it. I he purpose of the prolongation of the dispute was simple to save the faces of a few men at tlie top. •_ Mr F G. Penny (Conservative) pointed out that the’Opposition had put forward' no constructive proposals Amidst .Labour protests he asked if Mr. Cook was paid for every speech he delivered. Sir William Joynson-Hicks, Home

Secretary, in justifying the action taken by tlie Chief Constable of Staffordshire, recalled the police report of one of Mr. Cook’s speeches, in which he described the police .as “dirty bluebottles.” But, said the Minister, it. was not necessary to give a definite reason, beyond the Chief Constable’s decision that a breach of the peace might occur. The debate was adjourned. CONTINUANCE OF REGULATIONS AGREED TO BY HOUSE OF LORDS (Rec. October 26, 7.50 p.m.) London, October 25. The House of Lords agreed to the continuance of the Mining Regulations, after Viscount-Haldane had raised the question of prohibition of Mr. Cook’s meetings in Staffordshire. Lord Birkenhead said Mr. Cook’s concern was not to procure a settlement, but to destroy British industry, firstlv with the object of advertising himself, and secondly of applying 'the doctrine . of nationalisation to the coal-fields. BAN ON MINERS’ MEETINGS HODGE’S SUGGESTION FOR NEGOTIATION (Rec. October 26, 11.15 p.m.). London, October 26. The police banned a meeting of Mr. Herbert Smith at Wombwell yesterday. It is announced that Mr. Cook intends addressing meetings to-day where he was banned on Sunday. Mr. Frank Hodges, at Bridgend, elaborated a suggestion for making district agreements, to be followed by a national settlement based thereon, thus securing a negotiated peace. The “Dailv Herald” gives prominence to Lord Derby’s willingness to mediate, and affirms that the suggestion should be carefully considered beforehand, and supported by a considerable bodv of Conservative opinion.