COAL MINING CRISIS

Evening Star, Issue 19003, 27 July 1925, Page 5

COAL MINING CRISIS

OWNERS AND MEN CONFER LIVING WAGE WANTED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, July 24. It is officially announced that the coal owners and miners met jointly this afternoon and adjourned till the 29th inst. It is learned that the miners’ representatives informed Air AV. C. Bridgeman that they wanted a peaceful settlement if it could be secured, but they meant to have a living wage. They also hoped that the owners’ notices would be suspended. The Schairman of the Trade Union Congress declared that the congress would support the miners and textile workers.—Reuter. SUPPORT FOR MINERS. TRANSPORT WORKERS’ CONFERENCE. LONDON, July 24. Two important resolutions in 'view/of the threatened coal stoppage were passed at the closing session of the Transport AVorkers’ Conference at Scarborough, The first protested against the proposal to establish a special mechanical transport section of the Army Reserve, believing this to he a subtle attempt to got largo bodies of the transporters under military control during a national civil dispute. The second authorised the council to call a stoppage of work by an affiliated organisation or a part of one to assist a union defending a vital principle.—Reuter. TRADE UNION ASSISTANCE. LONDON, Juno 25. A conference of the London 'trade Union Congress Special Committee with three railway unions and the Transport AVorkers’ Union decided, in the event of a minors’ stoppage, to take steps to prevent the moving of coal. It was decided to call a special conference of the executives of all trades in London on July 30 to consider general trade union action. The executive of the Amalgamated Union of Building Trade AVorkers resolved to call tho General Council of the Trade Union Congress immediately to establish council action in support of the miners.—Reuter. INDIGNANT MINERS. ATTRAIPT TO DUCK DEAN. LONDON, July 2G. (Received July 27, at 9.25 a.m.) While Air Ramsay AlacDonald was addressing tho Durham miners’ gala and condemning tho Government’s belated action in tho coal crisis and declaring that tho coal trade must he organised nationally, and thus secure unification in production, wages, and conditions, tho Right Rev. J. E. Welldon, Dean of Durham, was seen approaching to address a temperance meeting. At the conclusion of the gala speeches tho crowd jostled and rushed tho Doan to tho river’s edge, intending to duck him. Tho police commandeered a passing motor boat and convoyed him to safety, minus his silk hat and umbrella. The demonstration was i lie outcome of the Dean’s reference in newspaper articles to tho coal position.—Reuter. [Tho Right Rev. Dr AVelldon, Dean of Durham, was Bishop of Calcutta from 1898 to 1902. He was a popular head master of Harrow, and is noted for his Greek scholarship. He is a leader in social reform movements.]

PLEA RY MU BALDWIN. A HARASSED INDUSTRY. LONDON, July 2!i. (Received July 27, at 9.25 a.in.) The Prime Minister (Mr Baldwin) addressed 50,000 Lancashire and Cheshire unionists at Kuowsley Park. .Ho said that the most satisfactory feature of the foreign outlook was the evident desire of Germany to continue negotiations with both Britain and Franco. He hoped that Germany would enter the League of Nations as soon as possible, because then the existing problems, notably disarmament, would assume a new and better aspect. The chief factor in cheeking the growth of Britain’s overseas trade was the great increase in productive and distributive costs. Britain was threatened with a conflict between the coal owners and the miners, both with very strong cases, but all the time the financial position grew worse. These conflicts must he lifted on to a now piano by both the masters and the men. "The Prime Minister said ho Imped that the negotiations which were about to bo resumed would result in carrying the harassed industry over a year or two till it was easier to negotiate a permanent settlement. —Renter.