THE COAL TAX,

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 98, 4 May 1901, Page 2

THE COAL TAX,

MINERS THREATEN A BIG STRIKE. LAWYERS DECLARE IT WOULD BE A STATE CONSPIRACY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright „ London, May 3. Owing to tho proposed imposition of a coal tax, Mr J. Wilson, Unionist member for Falkirk Burghs, has severed connection with his party. Tho Northumberland miners threaten a fourteen weeks’ strike. The Midland miners have approved of the Miners’ Federation recommendation for a general stoppage of the mines in tho event of the tax being adopted. Parliamentary lawyers declare that tho Federation's recommendations of a strike against the tax would amount to a State conspiracy, involving legal responsibility. In the House of Commons Sir William Harcouvt combatted tho coal tax. Ho said that the system was an. obsolete burden. The tax fell on the coalminer.

If the foreign purchaser was able to bear the tax on exports, lie would long since have raised the price. Sir Michael Hiolcs-Boaoh, in the course of a vigorous reply, said inasmuch as British prices fall on foreign rivals, they were still able to compcto with them. Heretofore, tho coal owners, on a hundred and ten millions of capital invested in 1900, made twenty-nine millions profits, over and above the 1897. It was unnecessary to penalise coal winners. Tho demand for British coal was imperative abroad. If slightly checked the country would reap the advantage. Ho was dealing liberally in regard to existing contracts, inasmuch as tho tax was not temporary, Tho speech was received with cheers, mingled with dissent. The debate was adjourned.