LABOUR NEWS

Grey River Argus, 26 June 1925, Page 5

LABOUR NEWS

BRITISH COAL CRISIS. (Aus. anil N.Z. Ass<»ci;i t iuii.) . (Received June 25 nt 10 p.m.) LONDON, June 25. LIM Aliners’ Federation Exectil i ve’s meeting accept'd the report of the miners’ representatives on a joint sub committee investigation, but, piuiding the receipt of the coal owners’ detailed proposals, adjourned to July 2nd. Mr Herbert Smith, who presided, de,, clared the - miners would «se every effort to fight against longer hours and lower wages. The Executive decided Io submit the whole position to the Trades Union Congress. It is understood that in view of opposition being foreshadowed to obtain legislation for an extension of the seven hours day, the owners are unlikely to include a longer working day in their proposals. Their demands probably will be confined to a readjustment of the wage basis, and probably also cuts in the percentage rate. Mr J. IL Thomas, M.P., at Derbv, referred to the very grave industrial position with which the country was faced. In regard to the mining trouble, he said he refused to believe that a solution was not possible. MT. MORGAN MINERS’ DEMAND BRISBANE, June 25. The employees at the Mount Morgan mine have served demands on the management for a 44_hour week, and an increase in wages of Ljd hourly. The management will confer with the men in an effort to reach an agreement, but they state they will probably have to close the mine as the result of a long series of labour disputes and of the state of the market. NEW ADS Grand Ball, I’aroa Hall to-night. Grand Concert, Runanga Miners’ Hall to-night. Euchre tournament Reefton to.night. Excelsior Assembly, Druids’ Hall to•i i i gh t. Tourist Department—Change. not mean peace. In such a case, Britain ought not to be in it. Mr Chamberlain, replying to the debate, mentioned that the association of Italy with the western Pact guarantee would be welcomed. Britain was prepared to join the other great Powers in any conference for a further limitation of armaments. The initiative in regard to naval matters might better come from the United States,; whereto 'vc owed the first decisive international -act of disarmament the world had seen. The Powers .with larger armies, if assured of security, would probably take the initiative by making spontaneous proposals -for a reduction in the land armaments they had hitherto considered necessary for safety. The Dominions were kept fully informed of all the proceedings by the British Government, and except for New Zealand, which had expressed complete confidence in the British Government, with which it was content to leave the decision, the Dominions had not yet declared themselves, but no Dominion could be committed except by its own Government, acting with Hie support of its own I’arliamcnt. T|ie debate ■was adjourned. Mjr Chamberlain stressed the fact that the Powers entered the Paet as equtls. There was no member signing 1 he! agreement who undertook obligations on one side, which, in altered circumstances, did not apply equally to it he other side. It was, in essence, not an alliance of one set of nations agfinst the other set, but a mutual guji ran tee of pacific intentions. The Prt t gave no right to any Power to go' through the territory of any other I’dwer to the assistance of a third. Tlje right to march across a neighbour's territory to the assistance of a whmged nation was embodied in the League of Nation’s Covenant. It would oily be when the League exhausted nUthods of conciliation that th- quest’vni of this right arose. : The speakers following the Foreign ►secretary raised various questions, |ascd on hypothetical circumstances. To most of these, Air Chamberlain, in f inding up, replied that the League of Nations w’ill decide. The winding_up speech, nevertheless kvas no more enlightening than the Opening one. It occujiied 40 minutes, though owing to its lateness, it was lonly briefly reported in the papers. One new fact emerged, namely, Air Chamberlain’s belief that Cologne will be evacuated within two months. It is interesting to note in this connection that the ‘‘Morning Post’s” Paris correspondent understands that the List French soldier will have probably left the Ruhr by August 15th. Among references made in the debate to the Dominions, Air Robert Hudson said Britain must see her foreign policy was such that if ever she had to fight again for a good cause, the Dominions, of their own free will, would support, her as in 1914. Air Percy Hurd said the Empire’s policy must be fashioned in synqiathy with the Dominions’ feeling. Commander Carlyon Bellairs said it was essential for the Dominions to be with them. The Alliance of the British Commonwealth was infinitely more important than any pact. In reply to the Labourite, Air Shaw, Air Chamberlain stated: ‘‘YVe have had no communication from Australia oi Canada expressing definite opinion against the pact. The “Daily Telegraph” says that, while commending the agreement, it regards Mr Lloyd George and Mr R. AlacDoiiald’s points as legitimate criticism. It adds that when the actual negotiations were begun, there were many questions of difficulty to be faced. ~ , The political writers agree that A \ (llnimlu'rlain's statement on tin' >n-,-nritv iptesti.m in 1 1m H"nse 111O11S is too general to be ram > - formative, ami i-ontaiiied nothing m to the students of the White jiapei.