MINING CRISIS

Evening Star, Issue 19272, 10 June 1926, Page 5

MINING CRISIS

CONFERENCE ENDS IN DEADLOCK BOTH SIDES ADAMANT Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, June 8. A lengthy meeting of tho coal I owners’ representatives and the MinI ers’ Federation officials proved abortive. The mine owners stated after the meeting that (ho other side had emphasised that it was not disposed to shirt from the position which it had hitherto adopted. The owners therefore regretfully concluded that there was no immediate hope of carrying tho matter further. Mr A. J. Conk, on behalf of the miners, stated that it appeared that there was not the slightest possibility of a further conference with the owners at present, and the dispute continned. The owners had not receded in the slightest from their demands for longer hours and lower wanes. An independent source states that the atmosphere of tho conference was far from conducive, to peace. 'J lie minors adopted a challenging and impatient attitude, and absolutely refused to consider a departure from the present hours. They would not entertain tho eight-hour day in any circumstances or a reduction of wages. They expressed tho opinion that a reduction was unnecessary if a reorganisation of the industry were carried out.— Reuter. SITUATION .MORE ACUTE. .MINERS’ FIRRY ANTAGONISM. LONDON, June 9. The ‘ Westminster Gazette ’ states that the Coal Conference has rendered tho situation more acme. Angry recrimination terminated in an atmosphere of fiery antagonism, in which the miners hurled insults at the owners, declaring that they had falsified tho facts and figures relating to tho industry’s economic ability to pay the present wages.—Sydney ‘Sun’ Cable.