BRITISH COAL CRISIS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 10065, 1 August 1925, Page 5

BRITISH COAL CRISIS

GRAVE POSITION BUT NOT HOPELESS.

PREMIER SULL PERSONALLY NEGOTIATING.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (REUTER’S TELEGRAM.)

LONDON, July 31. Tli© coal situation is regarded in Ministerial circles this afternoon as very-' grave, but not hopeless. The Premier, Mr. Baldwin, is doing his utmost to make the parties confer, impressing on them that a strike must he averted.

Mr. Baldwin conferred firstly with the coal owners, and secondly with the miners, after which representatives of both made statements to the Press, indicating that neither side had made any concession. The miners’ representatives after seeing Mr. Baldwin, conferred with a special committee of the Trade Union Congress, and afterwards these conferees joined.

Cun shots and explosives AT AMMANFORD. STRIKERS RAID EIGHT COLLIERIES. (REUTER’S TELEGRAM.) LONDON. July 30. Gun shots and the. discharge of explosives on Thursday night, in the vicinity of the colliery at Ammanford where the strike of 20,000 Welsh anthracite miners originated, scared the officials protecting the colliery.’ The disturbances were renewed early this morning. The strikers raided eight collieries successively, and compelled the officials. except the manager and undermanager. to clear out. The police arrived, and charged and dispersed the strikers, who were singing the “Red Flag.”

SUSPENSION RUMOR NOT WITHOUT FOUNDATION. PREMIER’S OFFER TO ASSIST OWNERS CAUSES SURPRISE. (A. and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received July 31, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON. July 31. In connection with the eoa! crisis, negotiations developed rapidly late last night. An announcement circulated that notices were already suspended, though premature, is not without foundation. It appears that the owners available after Air. Baldwin made his offer to the miners were unable to give a guarantee of suspension until a full meeting of the Council this morning, but their explanation. according to the Daily Express, left no doubt that the notices will ho withdrawn. The -suggestion of an enquiry came from Mr. Baldwin in an early statement to the Miners’ Federation. “I am prepared,” he said, “as head of the Government, to do my utmost by way of the est-ab-Msbment of an authoritative enquiry, to try to get to the bottom of the economic difficulties of the industry, and sec how far the allegations concerning room for improvement in the industry are well founded.” Air. Baldwin then made an offer to assist the industry temporarily. When Air. Baldwin again met the miners they expressed their desire to co-operate. The Government offer came as a surprise after Air. Baldwin’s repeated declarations against a subsidy. Bath owners and miners late in the afternoon declared the situation was boneless.

G.W.R.. WARNS R AIL WAY MEN

SUGGESTED ROYAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY.

<A. AND N Z CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received July 31, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 31

The rai’waymen’s executive has issued instructions against hanldiiig coal.

The Great Western Railway Company issued a statement warning the men of their legal obligation to carry all traffic offered them.

The Government Departments has circulated plans for emergency Pleasures.

Cabinet held a lengthy meeting, however, and assented to some assistance until the spring pending an enquiry. It is believed to be a guarantee against loss. The Daily Herald claims that the iron solidarity of the trade unions overcame the reluctance of some Ministers to use the State funds. lb is stated in several quarters Mr. Baldwin contemplates a Royal Commission with wider scope than the Sankcy enquiry.

MORE HOPEFUL NEWS. PRESS REGARD CRISIS AS OVER, (A. AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received Julv 31, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 31. Late editions of tho morning papers regard the cr’sis as over. They understand that the owners will agree to the suspension of the notices. The Times says Cabinet led the way to a chance of a solution which neither sido can refuse without aliouating public sympathy.

GENERAL STRIKE AVERTED

OWNERS WITHDRAW NOTICES FOR FORTNIGHT.

(Reuter’s Telegram.; (Received July 31. 11.35 p.m.) LONDON, July 31. The coal owners have withdrawn their notice for a fortnight.

OWNERS TO MEET AT EARLY HOUR. ' PREMIER’S “LAST HOUR BID FUR PEACE.” MINISTRY OF LABOR, SUMMAR- . LSES POSITION. (REUTER’S TELEGRAM.) (Received July 31. ll.fi p.m.) LONDON, July 31. ' Mr Baldwin spent the night in confeernco with tlie miners and owners separately. A joint meeting did not occur. it is understood the owners wall meet privately a.t 10 (o’clock this morning to discuss the Premier’s suggestion to suspend the notices. Tlie meeting is arranged for an early hour in order that intimation may be sent to the Government as soon as ■ possible if the suggestion is accepted, enabling the news to reach the min- [ ing districts promptly. There is not expected to be any difficulty in ' reaching a decision on the point. What is described as the Premier’s “last hour bid for peace” is given prominence in the papers, which mostly regard the decision as the vir- ■ tual settlement of the coal crisis i as the owners are expected to withdraw! their notices, which otherwise expire at, midnight. . i The official . announcement was issued too late for anything in the na- • ture of detailed comment. # i A statement issued by the Ministry of Labor says following the meeting of Cabinet at which full consid- • oration was given the whole eireuml stances of the coal dispute,. the Pre- '' mier bad further conversations with ■ representatives of the miners and owners The farmer told'the Premier 1 they desired to co-operate in the pro--1 posed inquiry with a view to Lull Tn-. • vestigation into the methods of im(Continued at foot of next column.)

proving the productive efficiency of tho industry for the purpose _of increasing its competitive power in winning markets. They intimated it was unfair to require a reduction of wages with the present cost of living, before an attempt' was made at the inquiry to secure contribution, towards meeting the difficult situation with which the industry is confronted. Tho Premier consequently announced that the Government was prepared to assist the industry until spring when the enquiry would b*. completed. Tho Premier requested the owners to suspend their notices for a fortnight in order that the necessary discussions could proceed concerning the way wherein temporary .assistance could be afforded.

A statement issued by Mr Cook on behalf of the miners says; A settlement is not yet reached. A further meetings with thv. Premier has been arranged at noon to-day afte/ the Premier has met the owners. The mine workers will receive instructions immediately aftor to-day’s meeting.

COAL GLUT IN GERMANY. TEN MU A TON TONS TO BE SOLD CHEAP IN RUHR. ONLY METHOD IS BY EXPORT. (Reuter’s Telegram.) BERLIN, July 30. A glut of coal is causing a' crisis in tbe German Industry. Ten million tons are lying in the Ruhr, and must ho sold at any nrice to save the industry from ruin. Tho only method of disposing of this is by export. This explains the refusal of the Germany delegates to the International Miners’ federation at Paris to join with the Brjt’sh in the str’ke, or even to sunnort the transporters in preventing the export of the coal. The situation is such that the ■Ruhr owners are resorting to wholesale dismissals . . Negotiations, in winch the Chancellor is partic’pating, are proceeding in Berlin to solve the problem;