BRITISH COAL CRISIS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 175, 25 June 1926, Page 7

BRITISH COAL CRISIS

REORGANISATION BILL. READ IN THE COMMONS. LABOUR AMENDMENT DEFEATED. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, June 23. In the House of Commons, Colonel Lane-Fox, Under-Secretary of Mines, moved the second reading of the Mining Reorganisation Bill. He said that many things in the industry were unripe for legislation. Tl» bill did riot’ contain a full list of the Coal Commission’s recommendations, but only those that could definitely and easily be carried into effect.

When dealing with colliery amalgamation Colonel Lane-Fox contended that the Labour amendment for the unification of mines was really name for tlieir old friend Nationalisation, which the country had rejected. The bill did not mean that the Ministry would not deal with all the recommendations in turn.

Mr V. Hartshorn (Labour) moved the Labour amendment. He said that the bill would not have the slightest effect in regard to the industry’s difficulties. It was an empty pretence. He asserted that 40 per cent of the mines had undergone a post-war revolution, producing at a low cost an output which was dominating the market and determining the prices. Not only was unification necessary, but so also was the control of selling prices. Until that was done a subsidy to the. owners or a reduction in wages or an increase in the hours'would not prevent all the benefit going to the consumer without helping the great mass of the unprofitable stuff found in the industry. Labour’s idea of unification was bringing the efficiency of one part of the industry into the other. The losing part, which represented 58 per cent., part of it beyond redemption, ought to be lopped off. He appealed to the House to abandon prejudice. Mr Lloyd George said that he considered Mr Hartshorn’s speech had created a new situation. A grave omission was the Government’s refusal to deal with the purchase of royalties. If the Government owned the whole mineral rights it would be in a position to exercise strong pressure upon refractory owners. The miners’ representatives had urged the Government to adopt Mr Hartshorn’s suggestion for a Parliamentary round-table conference.

Mr Duncan Graham (Lab.) said that if the miners were compelled to go back without a fair deal, he was prepared to instruct the men to restrict the output in order to compel the public to pay a high price, which would allow the miners to be paid a fair wage. Sir Laming Worthington-Evans, Secretary for War, replying, pointed out that any pit could apply for a scheme of amalgamation which could be put into operation compulsorily. Referring to Mr Hartshorn’s suggestion for a round-table conference, the Minister said that the Government would gladly meet in conference any one of the miners authorised to negotiate. Previous negotiations had broken down because the negotiators’ hands were tied. If Mr Hartshorn were authorised the Government would be delighted to meet him immediately.

Mr Hartshorn’s amendment was rejected by 336 votes to 147. The bill passed its second reading.—A. and N.Z. cable. •»=

CONFERENCE PROSPECTS. GOVERNMENT INQUIRY. LONDON June 24. It is reported that following Mr Hartshorn's speech the Government is taking measures to ascertain the prospects of a conference more broadly constituted than the owners’ and miners’ committees.—A. and N.Z. cable.

TRADES UNION CONFERENCE.

IMPERATIVE POSTPONEMENT,

LONDON, June 23. Tho Trades Union Congress Conference on Friday to consider the question of the general strike has been postponed in order to formulate a settled policy of resistance to the Government’s action. The, Trades Union Congress has issued a statement that the General Council and the Miners’ Federation consider the postponement of the conference imperative in order to adopt a united policy for resisting the Government’s action to the utmost. The Daily Mail says that the decision regarding the postponement of the meeting was reached after a wrangle with the miners’ officials. The council agreed to the postponement on condition that Mr Cook ceased to attack trade union leaders.—Sydney Sun cable. DONATIONS TO MINERS.

LONDON, June 24

The Woolwich Co-operative Society has donated to the miners £IO,OOO, to' the Trades Union Congress £IO,OOO, and to the Weavers’ Union £15,000. A. and N.Z. cable. >