COAL INDUSTRY

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 11 January 1926, Page 9

COAL INDUSTRY

MR HENDERSON’S WARNING. LABOUR BEHIND THE MINERS. THE DAILY HERALD’S COMMENT. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received Jan. 11, 1.15 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 10. Mr Arthur Henderson, M.P., speaking at Pontypooi, warned, tile country Unit tiie proposals before the Coal Commission raised economic and political questions of vital importance. He dec,ared that the entire Labour movement would be behind the miners m the matter. He said that the miners could not be expected to accept less than a living wage. The Daily Herald says, editorially: "Tiie Government would do wel] to heed Mr Henderson’s warning. He is not an extremist. The coal owners’ plan is to sweat the miners more, and to make the consumers pay more. The miners’ way is to reorganise the industry as a national service and to free it from the depredations of royalty and owners' profits to end capitalistic and middlemen’s mismanagement. If die Government arrays the forces of the State against the forces of Labour, it will provoke a situation fraught- with incalculable consequences.” A. and N.Z. Assn.

THE STATE’S ACQUISITION. COMPENSATION FOR OWNERS. FORECAST OF COMMISSION'S REPORT. Received Jan. 11, 1.25 p.m LONDON. Jan.' 10. The Sunday Express says that the State’s acquisition of the country’s mining rights is almost certain to form the basis of the Coal Commission’s report, probably with compensation for royalty to tiie owners by the issue of - Government stock. There will probably, be a minority report indicating a strong difference of opinion on the subject of the reorganisation of the industry and the reintroduction of the eight-hour day.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MINERS’ AVERAGE WAGES. Received Jan. 11, 12.15 p.m. LONDON. Jan. 10. Mr Cook, secretary of the Miners’ Federation, says: “The audited return for the period ending October last show that miner’s average earning was £2 10s weekly.—A. and N.Z. Asson.