SETTLED !

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 10066, 3 August 1925, Page 5

SETTLED !

BRITISH COAL CRISIS OVER,

PREMIER’S NEGOTIATIONS SUCT ' CESSFUL,

OWNERS WITHDRAW NOTICES

FOR FORTNIGHT

MEN TO CONTINUE WORK.

GOVERNMENT AGREES TO ASSIST INDUSTRY.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.)

(A. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, July 31. The coal crisis is settled. (Received August 2, 5.5 p.m.) The settlement takes the form of the Government providing funds for the next mine' months to enable owners to continue to pay wages on the basis of the 1924 agreement. The industry lost £1,500,000 in Juno so the assumed subvention will cost the Government £10,000’,000 to £12,000',000, though the actual 'amount will depend on the course of trade between August and May. (Received August 2. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 31. Mr. Baldwin’s settlement is generally hailed as a big victory over trade unionism in general, and the miners in particular. Negotiations during the- morning lay* between the Government and the owners, as the trade union leaders, resolutely claimed that the questions of hours and a minimum wage were outside the limits of the negotiations. Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Churchill me the owners' at midday.t There were several anxious hours until four o’clock, when Mr. Baldwin was due to report to the Commons. It is understood Mr. Churchill throughout was emphatic that the Government had no intention of giving the industry a blank cheque. There is also the question of how far the owners are going to re-open the 508 pits already closed. It is still not known how these will be affected. The final settlement followed the subvention granted tlie miners in 1921. (Reuter’s Telegram.) (Received Aug. 2, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 31. Mr. Cook stated that the miners’ wages and conditions would continue the same until the spring, at least nine months during the sitting of the Commission of Enquiry into the coal industry. The Trades Unions Congress Oorrr mittee circularised trade unions announcing that the coal owners and Miners’ Federation had accepted the Government proposal and the embargo o?i the movement of coal is withdrawn, work to be continued by all.

PREMIER CHEERED IN THE COMMONS.

TRIBUTES BY POLITICAL OPPONENTS.

(Reuter’s Telegram.) (Received August 2, 5.5 p.m./ LONDON, August 2.

The House of Commons was crowded, and when the Premier entered be was cheered. Mr. Baldwin announced that the mine owners’ notices were suspended for a fortnight and the men were ordered by the executive to remain at work.

Mr. Baldwin stated that a provisional agreement had been reached with the mine owners subject to district confirmation, the miners’ executive sending out the following telegram: “Notices suspended. Continue working.” Air. Baldwin added if there was any local hitch owing to the lateness of the hour at-'which the settlement was reached he trusted all parties would co-operate to remove it. The Hon. J. R. Clynes expressed a very great sense of relief. Mr. Lloyd George associated himself with Mr. dynes’ words in regard to the relief he felt and also the whole community that this dark cloud had not at present broken upon British industry. Asked regarding the condition reached, Air. Baldwin said the negotiations had only concluded within the last five minutes. Air. Churchill would have certain information which would be published to-night and the matter could be discussed if necessary next week, probably on Thursday.

THE RAILWAYMEN’S VIEW.

“NOT COMPLETE VICTORY, BUT . RESPITE.”

(REUTEP.’S TELEGRAM.) LONDON. _Aug. 1. (Received August 2, 5.5 p.m.) The railwaymen’s official, Mr. Cramp, presiding at the final session of the Labor Conference, said he did not cla.im the coal settlement was a complete victory, but they had someof a respite which was going to lead to an acknowledgement that the workers were entitled to subsistence before any other charge. The industry had difficult times ahead' before the problems of mining, transport, textile, and other industries were solved. They could not be solved by strikes. * Labor must iwe its own, brains, solving the problems of re*organisation ■ and ownership of industries. Mr. Thomas, the railways representative. said it was important to secure a go-between in the later stages of the negotiations, acting unofficial as a liaison office!’ between the Government and the'trade unions. When matters were at. their worst last night tlie consultation between Mr. Thomas and Mr. Churchill was "reatlv influenced by the fact that it they did not keen the mines going the country would be forced to pay many millions in poor relief. MR. COOK CONGRATULATED. ‘ ‘MERELY AN ARMISTICE. ’ ’ LONDON, July 31. Mr Cooke, the miners’ secretary, received letters and telegrams from trade unionists all over the country congratulating him on liis great initial" triumph and on the solidarity. Mr. Cook issued a manifesto describing the settlement as nieiely an armistice. Great issues must still, bo ' faced, including complete reorganisation of the industry, the elimination of royalty and other private ownership,' to 'prevent exploitation of the consumer, and to give the nation a return for its £10,000,000 subsidy. The chairman of the South v\ ales allowed that for a country,to be cocreed was a disaster, and was only deferring the evid day. The president of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce, interviewed, said if the coal trade needed a subsidy so did the steel, shipping and other industries.

LONDON PRESS COMMENT. LESSER OF TWO EVILS “VICTORY FOR VIOLENCE.” (PUBLISHED IN THE TIMES) (Received August 2, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 1. “The Times” says the solution' is a victory for common-sense, not for any of the parties concerned. The. choice of the leaser of two evils is right m the circumstances, but if the problem of restoring the industry in l a sound position is unsolved the temporary relief will have done more harm than S °Tlie “Daily Mail” describes the settlement as a victory for-violence. . It says Britain means to be ruled by her own properly-elected Parliament, not i by - Trade TJ nion wire-pullers, who; ;are' carrying -out the orders of Zmovieff and •imagine' themselves little Trotskyu and Lenins. - - . _ V- _ :

BIGGEST VICTORY LABOR EVER . won. ■;

“THIS GIANT’S STRENGTH CAN GAIN EVERYTHING.”

(A. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received August 2, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 1. The “Daily Herald” (Labor) says: “It is the biggest victory the Labor movement over won. Both Air. Baldwin and the owners have done what 'they declared' they never would do. The victory was won by the solidarity of Labor, and if it chooses Labor can use this giant’s strength ,to gain everything on which its heart is set. There is no fear such strengtli will be used tyranuously.” ,

BRITISH PRESS COMMENT

PEACE AT A HEAVY PRICE

(A. and N.Z. Cable Assn.)

(Received August 1, 5 p.m.) LONDON, July 31. The ’ Morning Post’s political correspondent says: Cabinet’s reversal of the anti-subsidy policy is resented by large numbers of Conservative Commoners, whoso comments in the lobby are forcible. The Morning Post says, editorially: “Peace has been bought at a price not of money only hut of principle and, this cost in money and. principle may be-more ruinous than the crisis which it avoided.. To-day, it is the mines ; to-morrow it may be the railway, and then the docks or the iron and steel or shipbuilding works.” The Daily Telegraph says: “We do not blame the Government for yielding. The pistol was at their heads and they virtually had no choice. It is an uneasy peace which has been purchased, but it is worth paying to avoid a coal stoppage which _ must have developed most rapidly into a national strike.”

' The Daily News says: “The Government has taken the right course, hut it has not brought peace, certainly not honor. It has only -brought time, the use of; which will test the value of the bargain.” The Daily Chronicle declares that the settlement is the price of the Government’s indolence and tho sequel to months of neglect, it was clear as daylight that the s tuntion could not bo saved, unless the Government intervened on behalf of the nation to provide the necessary conditions for working the mines efficiently, economically and nroductive’v. Air. Cook has issued a statement: “We have been able to maintain before the whole community the fac-t that the mine workers are underpaid and the Government has been compelled to recognise that the industry requires complete re-organisation. We shall enter the inquiry unfearingly. The struggle proves the power of Trades Unionism.”