PARTIES FAIL TO AGREE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 79, 3 April 1926, Page 7

PARTIES FAIL TO AGREE

WAGES THE VITAL CONCERN

MINERS AGAINST REDUCTION.

(United Press Association.—Copyright.) (Router's Telegram. J LONDON, 2nd April. An official statement of the coal owners' proposals in respect to the Eoyal Commission. 's report appends roplies to the Commission's recommendations ad seriatim. The replies to a largo extent express agreement with or acquiescence in the recommendations, including willingness, to engage in national as against direct discussions, which they strongly, advocated. The owners are of opinion that the recommendation as to State ownership of the mineral is a Parliamentary question. They agree that tho methods of payment of men not employed at the face should be revised, so'as to give them a direct interest in the output. They recognise that the miners will not entertain the proposal for longer, hours, and they therefore wish to discuss the recommendations that the definition of working time be weekly instead of. daily and for greater flexibility in working hours. The owners consider that the most urgent matter is a settlement of the minimum percentage on the .basis of rates and amount of subsistence wage in each district. INSURMOUNTABLE OBSTACLE. The Miners' Federation executive has i issued a statementon a two days' conference with the owners, saying that the latter refused to intimate what they proposed to pay after Ist May except to say that there would be heavy reductions. The executive describe the owners' views pn the Commission's report as indefinite.' They consider that their refusal to 'consider the fixation of a national minimum percentage and their insistence^.on all wages being a district concern constitute an almost insurmountable obstacle to an amicable settlement. ■ They assume, in the absence of definite proposals for a minimum percentage, that the owners' position is the same as last July, and the consequential wage reductions will vary from one to ,five shillings daily. The executive unanimously decided "not to consent to a further lowering of wages and; abolition of tho national minimum;' .percentage. A national delegates' conference will consider the position on 9th April, prior to which the executive of the federation will confer with the Industrial Committoe of the Trades Union Congress.