WAGES LEVEL

Northern Advocate, 28 May 1921, Page 5

WAGES LEVEL

government solution BRITISH MINING DISPUTE. SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. (Received 10 a.m.) .LONDON, May 27. Mr Lloyd .George, addressing the joint meeting of coal mine owners and miners, stated that the Government's proposal was for a temporary settlement, bringing down wage s on a graduated scale to an economic level, the deficiency .being provided by a composite fund consisting of the Government's £10,000,000 contribution and the amount involved by the owners' offer to forego profits. Thi s tehflorary arrangement depended, so far as the Government was concerned, on an agreement regard., ing the terms of a permanent settle, ment between the owners and the miners or machinery to determine such terms. They should agree definitely regarding the procedure and machinery whereby wages would be determined. If they saw no immediate prospect of a permanent settlement the 'Government would not put a single sixpence of the taxpayers' money on the table. Unless it were ■assured that a permanent agreement would be forthcoming the Government would not subsidise the coal iriaustry and would not increase its contribution beyond £10,000,000. The miners and owners' meetings will separately consider Mr Lloyd George's statement.—A. and N.Z.