NEW PHASE IN BRITAIN

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 118, 14 November 1929, Page 9

NEW PHASE IN BRITAIN

MACDONALD INTERVENES

DIFFICULTY OF WAGES

BritisU Official Wireless.

KUGBY, 12th November.

The coal industry negotiations assumed a new phase to-day, when for the first time the Prime Minister took part in them. In the morning ho and members of the Cabinet Coal Committee met representative coalowners, and this afternoon they received members oi the miners' executive. The chief difficulty confronting the Government is the contention of the owners that it would be impossible for the hours, to be reduced from eight to seven and a half without a commensurate reduction in wages. Another difficulty is created by the insistence of the miners on a national wages agreement. The owners state that they will in no circumstances depart from the present practice of district agreements. The Prime .Minister and the Cabinet Coal Committee are making strenuous efforts to overcome these difficulties. It is understood they discussed with the coalowners to-day the question of setting up a national board for the mining industry as an alternative to a national agreement. The suggested national board would be comparable with tht National Wages Board already existing for the railways. The latter board is working very satisfactorily The suggested board would be in the nature of a tribunal to which appeals could bo made in the event of the owners proposing a reduction in wages in any district consequent on the reduction of hours.