BRITISH COAL CRISIS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 15 July 1925, Page 5

BRITISH COAL CRISIS

PROPOSED ENQUIRY

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Reuter s Telegrams..)

LONDON. Julv 13

The miners’ executive decided to withhold the. recommendation of the delegate conference to accept the. coal milling enquiry until they receive a reply from Mr Bridgeman assuring them that the owners will suspend or withdraw their proposals and the notice to terminate the present agreement if the miners co-operate in tile enquiry. South Wales owners have announced the termination of the agreement and have intimated that the pits will be open on Ist August on terms to be announced later. They state that the tie cision in no respect constitutes a lock out.

The Exchange Telegraph Agency, summarising the views of the miners, says: “South Wales is hostile to the inquiry. Midlands, including Nottinghamshire Derby and Leicestershire favour the avoidance of a •trike. Lancashire is uncertain and Yorkshire will probably follow Herbert Smith.” A sidelight'on the coal depression was shown by Mr Samuel in replying to a question in the House of Commons. He said that he was aware that Russia was pushing the coal trade in Italy and other Mediterranean markets at what he believed were unremunerative prices.

(Reuter’B Telegrams.)

LONDON, July 13.

In the House of Commons Mr Baldwin announced that the court of en quiry into the coal mining dispute would c( nsist of Privy Councillor MacMillan, Mr W. Sherwood, and Sir Josiah Stamp. Mr Sherwoixl is official negotiator of the National Union of General Workers. He is an authority on the labour conciliation question.

NEGOTIATIONS PREFERRED TO

COURT OF INQUIRY

LONDON. Julv 14

Tlie miners’ executive telegraphed Mr an open situation meant that the owners, asking if his invitation to meet on an open situation weant that the owners’ proposals would be withdrawn, and negotiations could be resumed where they were broken off.

It is stated that the miners prefer negotiations to a court of inquiry. The Mining Association telegraphed the Miners’ Federation conference at Scarborough offering to meet, representatives to discuss the proposals for a new agreement, but. declaring that the owners cannot withdraw the notices of the termination of the agreement.