MINING DISPUTE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 13 July 1925, Page 5

MINING DISPUTE

"DON’T DESTROY THE PITS”

“THES’ MAS’ RE OURS

SPEECH BY MINERS' SECRETARY

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) , 4 N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON, July 12. Mr Cook. Miners’ Secretary, amid cheers took off his coat when he addressed a meeting at Sutherland, said his contention was that so long as a penny was going in mining royalties they Were not budging from their demands. If a struggle occurred it was an international struggle. “Don t let us destroy the pits. I hey may be outs betore long.

CONTIXI AM E OE NEGOTIATIONS

LONDON, duly 11

The General Co>micil of the Trade 1 moil (’oogress after meeting the executive of the Miners' Federation issued a manifesto cudorsiio' the latter’s refusal to meet the coal owners until the -att -i-'s proposals were withdrawn, undertaking lu co-operate whole heariedly with the miners in resistance to what they term the degradation ot the standard of life. A committee was appointed to maintain continuous contact with tiie negotiations now proceeding with power to summon the general council if necessary.

Mr Riidgeman sent a letter to the Coal Owners’ Federation saying that he had seen the president of tiie coal millers who. while declining to withdraw the notices to terminate the agreement, recommended the continuance of negotiations. The Federation replied regretting that the coal miners refused a reasonaole request, namely, the withdrawal of not. cos.

Mr Rridgcmaii failed in his efforts to bring the coal owners and miners together again. The miners told him that they were not prepared to confer unless the owners withdrew the notice terminating the national agreement and also their now proposals. Mr Rridgcmaii sounded the owners, who declined to withdraw the notice, but were agreeable to resume negotiations at. the point where they left off. The Miners’ Federation finally intimated that as their reasonable request was refused they would not agree to a conference.

it is generally believed that the next step will be a national enquiry into the condition of the industry.

NO MEETING POSSIBLE

ON OWNERS’ PRESENT PROPOSALS

LONDON, July 10

The executive of the Miners’ Federation conferred for au hour with Mr Bridgeman, Sir A. Steel Maitland, and Mr Lane-Fox, to whom it- is understood they made it. quite clear that it. was absolutely impossible for the miners’ rep-ii-senlatives to meet the coal owners on rile owners’ present proposals.

T• I TTISIT COAL IN GERMANY

BERLIN, July 11

The German Coal Commissioner denies the London -story that the importation of British coal was prohibited. f l here is merely a, restriction of imports owing to the depression in the German coal .industry. LONDON. July 10.

The Daily Herald states that after a conference with Mr Bridgemann, the minors' executive laid the men’s case before the General Council of the Trades Union Congress, which later lengthily deli borated.