COAL

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2728, 10 July 1925, Page 5

COAL

Unemployment Increased Eight-fold YET INDUSTRY IS DECLARED EFFICIENT. [By Electric Cab.e—Copyright.! [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.! LONDON, July S. In the House of Commons, in the the debate on the Ministry of Labour estimates, Mr. V. Hartshorn drew attention to the fact that whereas there were 38,000 unemployed in the mining industry last year, there were 301,000 last month. Ho contended that the industry must be efficiently equipped and organised. Mr. G. R. Lane-Fox, in replying, quoted ligures in support of his contention that the level of efficiency was very high, because, although the wage per shift In Germany averaged eightyonc pence, compared with 12S pence in Britain, the pit-head costs were 208 and 226 pence respectively. The cessation of almost cut-throat competition was necessary, specially in the export trade. AS A LAST RESORT. APPEAL TO PUBLIC OPINION. (Received Thursday. 5.15 p.m.) LONDON, July 0. It is understood that if no settlement of the coal dispute is reached very shortly. Mr. N. E. Bridgeman. on behalf of the Government, will ask the owners and miners to meet him. This failing, the Government will refer the wages question to an industrial court t.t inquiry, in order to inform the public of the respective viewpoints. INTERNATIONAL ACTION. FEDERATION MEETS IN PARIS. (Received Thursday, 7 p.m.) LONDON, July S. The executive of the International Miners’ Federation, in concluding its session in London after a discussion on the world-wide coal, crisis, decided to call a further meeting of the committee in Paris on July 28. to decide a form of joint international action if settlement was not reached of the disputes in the various countries. In the Commons, in reply to a question, Mr. Baldwin stated that he was not considering granting a subsidy for the coal export trade. In replying to a. communication from the president of the Mining Association. Mr. Herbert Smith, of the Minors’ Federation, expressed the belief that no good purpose would be served by the respective sub-commit-tee meeting on the mine owners’ proposals prior to the annual conference of the Federation next week, inasmuch as the Federation had already indicated there was no room for negotiations there anent.