ON THE EDGE

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 30 March 1926, Page 5

ON THE EDGE

A MOMENTOUS WEEK.

BRITISH COAL INDUSTRY

SPEECHES OF LEADERS. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. LONDON, March 29. A momentous week in the coal crisis was ushered in with the series of speeches by Labour leaders, indicating the .-trend 'of the trade union opinion. The Labour victory at Botliwell is claimed as evidence of the workers’ determination to resist the cut in wages. Mr I. Sullivan, the successful candidate, interviewed, says that other workers rallied to Labour, realising that a- reduction in the wages of the miners would be a signal to employers to reduce wages in other trades. Mr A. J. Cook, secretary of the Miners' Federation, speaking at Abertridwr, said that means must be found to assist the industry outside a reduction in wages, longer hours and district agreements 1 . “We cannot pay •Hie price of sacrifice any longer,” he s;fjrd. “We are going to clear out the ■rjfvaltv and owners without compensation, I hope.” Mr J.. H. Thomas, secretary of the railwayman, speaking at Dunfermline, said the test of success in trade union leadership was not to bring the people out on strike nor to promise them the moon when they could not even give bread and cheese. When there were signs of trade improvement the coal crisis had arisen. Low and scandalous as were the miners’ wages, the fact stood out that a great number of the pits were producing coal at an uneconomic price. A good sign was that both sides were desirous of finding: a settlement.

Sir W. .Toy n son-Hicks, Home Secretary, said: “We stand mf the edge of a precipice. Tt depends on the employers and employed whether there is a trade revival or whether strike, and lock-out will destroy the hope of a revival, possibly for years.”