MINERS' DEMANDS

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 38, 13 August 1920, Page 7

MINERS' DEMANDS

STRIKE BALLOT IN BRITAIN

AFFIRMATIVE VOTE URGED

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPIRIOHT.)

(AUSTRALIAN • NEW ZEALAND CABUB ASSOCHTteN.)

(Received August 13, 11.30 a.m.)

LONDON, -12th August.

A meeting of miners' delegates in London decided to take a ballot on a proposal to strike for demands outlined on 6th July, with a strong recommendation in favour of a strike.

LONDON, 12th August

Sir Robert Home (President of Board of Trade), in an interview, fore-,, shadowed the Government's determined refusal of the coalminers' latest demands. He pointed'out that the present wages show an increase of over 160 per cent, for seven-eighths of the pre-war working hours, resulting in four-fifths of the previous output.

[The demands referred to were formulated at a meeting of miners' delegates in London on 6th July. They are for the reduction in the price of domestic coal by 14s 2d per ton, the amount of the recent increase which the miners considered unjustified, and an increase in tbe wages of miners by 2s per shift for those over 16 and Is per shift for those under 16. These demands were submitted to the Government on 26th July, and were uncompromisingly rejected. This was followed by the calling of the National Conference now sitting, called for the purpose of deciding upon the strike-ballot- question. The returns of the ballots are expected by the end of August. Earlier cable messages foreshadowed a- grave crisis/as the result of the ballot.]