A GLEAM OF LIGHT

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 March 1921, Page 2

A GLEAM OF LIGHT

IN BRITISH INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE.

HOW LABOUR AND CAPITAL JOIN HANDS.

The great coal strike in England ended in a very memorable way—a way which is rich in the promise oi industrial peace. The statement, drawn up and accepted by both parties declares that mine owners and miners have a common interest, and that an increase in production must go with' an increase in wages.

“The most significant fact that emerges from the agreement” says the “Sunday Times,” “is that direct action as a method of asserting industrial rights has been abandoned by the responsible miners’ leaders.’’ “Ministers, miners, and coal owners made' a provisional settlement of the coal strike, and the Miners’ Executive recommended the men to accept the terms. The main points are: — “An immediate advance of 2s per shift which shall remain in operation until January 3. “From then onwards the wage will be automatically adjusted on the basis of the weekly average of the proceeds of export coal during the September quarter.

“Coal owners and miners are to cooperate to obtain increased output.” “With the acceptance of the miners’ representatives of the preamble to the agreement drawn up by Sir Robert Horne and Sir Philip Lloyd Greame, Labour has received a new says Mr P. W. Wilson in the “Sunday Times.” “The senti.no its contained therein mark not so much a constitutional as a moral advance. La bour now consents to cert tin infinite principles of co-operation .-.nd co-orain-ation, principles which • conomists have always held as theories, hit which have rarely been put into practice.

WHAT THE MINERS A COE’ T.

“The attitude of tho miners, i Miily under tho sway of Mr Smillie, has 'been during the last wook one which de serves the praise and admiration of ihe country. They have accept in (he main three principles:

“1 The welfare of the industry is a matter for joint control; “2 AVages and profits resulting from an industry must rise and fall together ; “3 Industrial peace is necessary, and -direct- action must be dropped. “As Mr Hodges says, ‘Political considerations must be dropped from the miners’ plans for the future of the industry. Such questions as the nationalisation of mines must be left to the development of the political consciousness of the people.’ “The mine owners on their part recognise the principle that wages and profits must rise- and fall together—and this, after all, is a principle harder to accept by the owner than by the

worker. ’ ’ “Speaking of the terms generally, it is claimed by those who have expert knowledge that they provide for the observation of three main conditions, says the “Daily Telegraph.” “These are: — “1 Increased wages shall be dependent on increased production. n 2 During the period before the permanent scheme for the regulation of wages is settled the industry shall be free from claims for fresh advances which might lead to disputes. “3 That the owners and the miners shall work together to produce from the coal industry the best possible results in the interests of the nation. “Production is the whole basis of the settlement terms. The miners are to receive an advance of 6d per shift for every £288,000 of revenue from coal eX “lt ;t is believed by those familiar with the working of the industry that the miners, co-operating with the owners in this new scheme, will be able easily to produce coal sufficient to yield a revenue that will enable them to retain the 2s/’