British Mining Crisis Threatens

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 249, 22 October 1935, Page 6

British Mining Crisis Threatens

Owners Refuse to Budge

"DEEP SENSE OF ANGRY FRUSTRATION”

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, Oct. 20.

The situation, arising from tho failure of the Miners’ Federation’s approach to tho owners’ organisations last spring for national wage negotiations, and the later developments leading to a decision of the delegate conference yesterday to take a ballot of the coaltields on the question of empowering the national executive to take action on behalf of the claim for a wage increase of two shillings per shift, is the subject of leading articles iu several newspapers. The point is generally made that the miners do not believe that tho

claim is obtainable in the present state of the industry, but the demand is put forward as the best way of focussing attention on needed reforms.

The movement al bottom, says the Manchester Guardian, is due to a deep sense of angry frustration.

The position is, says the Times, that the Government would welcome national negoliutions and the Secretary of Mines, has been and is willing U)

arrange a meeting, but cannot do so when the colliery owners would decline to attend because they have no intention of entering into negotiations or making any national agreement.

Tho Manchester Guardian IhiuKs theowners will act foolishly if they persist in Routing the Government and public opinion first, on the question ol coucilation machinery for dealing with labour disputes, and secondly, on. an improvement of the maehinciy which Parliament set; up in their interests for tile control oi' output and sales. The Financial News writes: “iu refusing to meet the federation at a national conference the Mining Association did not feel it necessary to stale its reasons for objecting to a national wages agreement. The tactics of the owners are their own atfairs and they probably feel there is nothing to gain by repeating arguments which have been heard many times already. it may, however, bo questioned if they have been entirely well advised.”

The Times agrees that the colliery owners arc certainly not making the best use of the facilities which Parliament lias given them to put the industry in order, but warns the miners against the danger of inviting a repetition of the. disaster which overtook them.in 3926, carrying suffering into every miner’s home. If their ieadois follow that sorry example, and demand that the Government shall fight their battle by compelling the owners to make a certain agreement, they will give the threatened strike the tainted character of a political weapon. The Financial News underlines the fact that the powers sought by tin* executive in the coming ballot are lor use in case of need. There is no reason to assume that they will necessarily lie used.

Hunger Strikers Haggard and Worn OWNERS PROMISE NO VICTIMISATION. LONDON, October 20. The Nine Mile Point strikers looked haggard and w< "a and stumbled about and needed support to reach the waiting motors, cars and ambulances.

“We mainly lived in the stables from which the ponies had been sent up,’ s id one min .n. “We slept on boards, played quoits, held concerts, services mid were never short of food, but got

tired and stiff-’’ The owners have promised no victimisation and negotiations on other points. Tho sympathetic strikers are gradually returning to work.