BLACK OUTLOOK

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 1 May 1926, Page 5

BLACK OUTLOOK

IN COAL SITUATION.

WORE MAY CEASE TO-DAY.

NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUING

BY CABLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT LONDON, April 30. The outlook this morning is at its blackest. The country is faced with a complete stoppage of the coalfields, with over 1,000,000 workers idle. As a matter of fact, the night shift finished this morning, and to-day’s day shift will be the last, unless the men receive instructions to the contrary from the Miners’ Federation. As usual, negotiations have been driven to the eleventh hour, and all depends upon to-day’s happenings. It is understood that yesterday s discussions ranged round the alternatives, firstly of a national minimum percentage above the 1914 wages, based on the existing seven hours’ day, which admittedly would involve a considerable reduction in wages; and secondly, a higher minimum wage, based on an eight hours’ day., which would make wages in most districts equal to the present scale. The existing minimum percentage is 33 1-3 above 1914 rates. The miners have refused absolutely so far to consider lengthening the seven hours’ day, which was secured by an Act of Parliament after a long straggle. . A member of the Trade Union Committee told the Daily Telegraph that there is no hope whatever of a settlement. Moreover, he did not believe there would even be any suspension of the notices. In fact, .40,000 men had already finished their duties and brought their tools to the . pitheads. The Prime Minister had told them that apart from the eight-hour day there was no wage he could submit with any hope of acceptance. The Daily Herald editorially remarks: “Mr Baldwin has not realised the heart of the matter. He has allowed the owners to concentrate on wages and hours, and has allowed the essential point, the reorganisation of the indostrv, to fall into the background. The miners must not he made to pay for the mismanagement of the owners.” The coal discussions continued until after midnight, when the Prime Minister. after two and a half hours’ discusson with the owners’ representatives, met a committee of the miners and the Trade Union Congress. After a brief sitting the latter conference adjourned till later in the morning. It is stated that the owners will submit specific proposals to the Prime Minister, after which he will again confer with the joint committee of the Trade Union Congress and the miners’ executive. It is understood the miners’ executive rejected the eight-hour day proposal. and that the question the Prime Minister discussed with the owners as the immediate issue was the suspension of the employerss’ notices. It is reported that the Prime Minister indicated that he was prepared to consider the extension of the Government’s financial assistance for. a few days, in order to give further time for negotiations, provided the owners susI . pended the notices. I - It is understood that Mr Baldwin is convinced that there will be no stoppage-