MINING INDUSTRY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 9 July 1925, Page 5

MINING INDUSTRY.

GERMAN UNDE RCU'rriNG

FORCING A CRISIS

iY CAJJLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT LONDON, July 7. There is u general impression that the Prime Minister (Mr. Stanley Baldwin) has made himself acquainted i\ ith the viewpoint of both parties in the coal crisis. It is not improbable that the leaders will be invited to confer at Downing Street within a week if a p:ivate solution fails. Mr. Herbert Smith, addressing the International Miners’ Federation at London, said the position of the industry in Britain was unprecedented and needed the gravest consideration. It was reported that through German undercutting French miners were being asked to agree to longer hourg and a 20 per cent, reduction in wages. There "was a similar crisis jn Belgium. It is significant that, as the result of a conference between the owners and the miners of the Netherton colliery (Northumberland) the. men accepted a tonnage reduction equivalent to a 20 per cent, cut Jn wages.