BRITISH COAL CRISIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14923, 22 February 1912, Page 7

BRITISH COAL CRISIS.

MINIMUM WAGE FOR MINERS. OWNERS' OFFER REJECTED. A SHORT TRIAL SUGGESTED. WITH A STATE GUARANTEE By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright (Received February 21, 10.10 p.m.) London, February 20. The owners of English coal mines submitted to the Conciliation Board the conditions on which they were prepared to accept a minimum wage. The miners rejected tho terms, and the conference, broke up. The scheme submitted by the English owners proposes a minimum daily rate of 7s lid for work in abnormal places, and of 6s lid for work in other places. It is understood that the miners are averse to more than 6d difference between the two rates. The Daily Chronicle states that one suggested settlement is that the minimum wage be given a three month's trial, the State bearing any extra cost to the coalmine owners. Merchants, householders, the railways, and Government depots have been storing coal heavily for the past month, many householders using their bathrooms as coal bins. Consumers at Liverpool are panicstricken, and are inundating the merchants with orders. The railway companies are cutting down the supplies in their waiting rooms and offices to one-third. Mr. Straker (secretary of the Northumberland Miners' Union) states that so confident are the miners of the justice of the men's case that they are willing to allow Sir Geo. Askwith to umpire. The men are not itching to strike. The Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, has invited the owners and miners' representatives to meet him and some of his colleagues at the Foreign' Office and on Thursday to consider means to avert a strike. It is proposed that the owners and the miners confer separately with the Government. A hundred large employers have given provisional notices affecting 15,000 glassmakers in Lancashire, as well as many ironworkers and engineers. NAVAL ORDER TO AMERICA. (Received. February 21, 11.15 p.m.) London, February 21. The Admiralty has ordered 10,000 tons of American steam coal for Gibraltar. A WELSH OFFICIAL ALARMED. MINERS RESENT HIS VIEWS. London, February 20. . The Chief Constable of Glamorgan states that the miners are without funds. If a strike cannot be won peacefully the authorities must prepare for wholesale rioting and looting, as, besides the strikers, there is a reckless, starving population. He demands 3500 infantry and 5000 cavalry. The miners are indignant at the letter. GLASGOW DOCKERS DISPUTE. London, February 20. Sir Geo. R. Askwith has persuaded the Glasgow masters and dockers to arbitrate on the interpretation of the recent award.