PEACE NOT YET

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 13 November 1926, Page 5

PEACE NOT YET

IN COAL DISPUTE. LONG CONFERENCES HELD. PROPOSALS FOR MINERS. BY CABLB—PBESB ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. LONDON, Nov. 11. The most important -development in the mining position to-day was the decision ot the miners' de l egate conference, alter careful examination of the reports from the districts, to epipower the executive to resume negotiations with the Government unfettered. This is accepted to mean that the miners have given way on the question ot hours, and are prepared to accept district settlements both on the matter ot hours and wages, subject to the safeguarding of certain national principles, which the- owners are willing to incorporate in the district settlements. , In the course of the day the miners’ executive met Mr. .Baldwin and Mr. Churchill, and after an hour’s discussion retired to an adjoining room for a private meeting. They returned later and met the full Cabinet Coal Committee, when, it is stated, the Government presented to the .miners a revised set of proposals, which definitely included the principle of a national appeal tribunal. These proposals were considered separately by the miners’ executive and various alterations made. They then returned the amended draft, and the Government intimated that it would further consider the position and consult the owners before meeting the miners at ten o’clock to-night. After a brief interview between the Cabinet representatives and the coal owners, for the purpose of informing the latter of the position of the negotiations, the miners were invited to meet members of the Cabinet again.

HAMMERING OUT THE DETAILS. The miners’ delegates came to grips with the Government after what Mr. Cook described as a “one way” conference. All the districts agreed to secure the best terms possible, .and then began a series of conferences at the House of Commons. •The Government agreed to establish a national tribunal on purely, judicial lines for the purpose of deciding questions arising out of the district .settlements. It was suggested that a famous city chartered accountant should be the chairman. Air. Baldwin, Air. Churchill, and Earl Birkenhead first saw the miners, then the. owners, and then the miners again. They also had a conference themselves regarding the points raised. Finally the Ministers and the miners assembled shortly after eleven last night and began hammering out the details. Parliamentary draughtsmen were summoned to draw up the documents. Representatives of the owners in the meantime were standing by in another room. The conference continued until 3.15 a.m., with an interval for refreshments, and when it broke up the feeling in Government and other circles was optimistic concerning the miners’ eventual acceptance. Naturally, there was no enthusiasm among the miners’ representatives. Air. Cook, however, when asked, denied that the negotiations had broken down. He said. “Until the delegates have decided, we ourselves cannot say that the negotiations are irrevocably off.” DOOR STILL OPEN. It is noted that the Government has carefully left the door open for further representations, though they are irfiwilling to alter the fabric of the document prepared. , The owners are known not to - favour any arbitral tribunal, but the Government counts on their acquiescence. Alessrs Herbert Smith, president of the Miners’ Federation, Tom Richards, vice-president, and others looked wornout as they went homeward in silence. The position of the negotiations when they were adjourned was that, after a prolonged discussion, in which many objections were raised on both sides, proposals were drawn up and were presented to the miners. The Government informed the miners a that the memorandum in substance was final, but if there were alterations desired to its form, these would be considered.

MINERS’ CONTENTIONS, It must be emphasised that the miners gave no pledge regarding the agreement, while" certain owners, who were made acquainted with the proposed terms, indicated neither approval nor disapproval. One of the miners’ main contentions was that the arbitral tribunal should have jurisdiction over all agreements. The Government, however, contended that the .standard agreements were expressly excluded from the operation of the tribunal, because the Government was, in theory, guaranteeing a minimum wage to the miners. Mr. Cook, in a statement, said; “We have done very little. We discussed the provisions of the memorandum for many hours, but I cannot say we have done* anything to convince me that substantial progress has been made. All I can say is that a settlement has not yet been reached.” He added: “The executive will consider the matter and, I hope, present the conclusions of the delegates at noon.”

GOVERNMENT’S FINAL TERMS. The Government’s, final memorandum of settlement, to which, it is understood, the owners are not committed, covers a three years’ peace. It is a highly technical document of ten clauses, of which the first provides that the Miners’ Federation shall do everything possible to promote an immediate resumption of work by district settlements, including the question of hours. The owners are to pay, temporarily, uot less than before the stoppage as basic rates in every district except Northumberland, Durham, Cumberland and North Wales, and the same subsistence wage. The owners are also to undertake to reinstate workmen as opportunity offers, without prejudice to those at present employed.

' Provision is made for the determination or .standard district agreements; the establishment of district boards, with an independent chairman; periodical determination of trading results by accountants representing both sides, and a regulation providing lor the division of the nett proceeds between the owner and the miner on the lines of the 1924 agreement. As soon as work is resumed, the Government undertakes to legislate for the establishment of a national arbitral authority, which, for six months, will hear appeals against any agreement not complying with the standard agreements, or those involving any longer working day than seven hours. The arbitral authority will be appointed by the Minister of Labour from among the members of an industrial court not

connected with the coal industry, assisted by two assessors, whom each party appealing appoints, but no appeal is possible against any agreement complying with the standard provisions. MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT TO BE PROSECUTED. LONDON, Nov. 11. The House of Commons, having concluded the report stage of the Electricity Bill, on the motion for adjournment* Mr D. Kirkwood (Labour. Dumbarton), raised the question of the banning of a meeting on behalf of the miners in Derbyshire on Sunday, and also the question of his threatened prosecution for making speeches calculated to create a. coal shortage. He said the prosecution was due to a personal feud between himself and the Home Secretary, Sir W. .TovnsonHicks. Captain Maokwood. on behalf of the Home office, assured Mr Kirkwood that the last thing the Home Secretary desired was to see him locked up. He was sure Mr Kirkwood would receive a fair trial, and wished him the best of luck. The House then adjourned.