BRITISH MINING CRISIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17429, 26 March 1920, Page 5

BRITISH MINING CRISIS.

NEGOTIATIONS BREAK DOWN.

SITUATION CONSIDEREp GRAVE. By Telegraph— Association— Copyright. Beuter, LONDON. March 24. The miners' negotiations for a three shillings' increase per dajl have been broken off. The situation is very grave.

A conference of the Miners' Federation on March 12 decided by an overwhelming majority to demand' immediately an advance in wages of 3s per shift for workers over the age of 16 and of 8d per shift for those under 16 years of age. The executive was instructed to take immediate steps to formulate the demand and to apply for an interview with the Prime Minister. The interview took place on Saturday last, when Mr. Lloyd George condemned the demand as amounting to syndicalism in its worst and least intelligent form. He added: " The claim is-that the whole of the abnormal profit made out of the foreigner, which now ■ goes to the State, should be given to the miners. If there should be a fall in prices the wages would have to come from the unfortunate consumer." The deputation finally decided to discuss the matter with the, Coal Controller.

Some of the British newspapers interpret the demands as the miners' reply to the recent vote by the Trades Union Congress against direct action ; also, as an effort on the part of the miners to convince trade unionists generally that nationalisation is the only expedient to avert a national coal strike. The demands, if granted, would mean an addition of £45,000,000 to the nation's coal bill, and would involve an increase in the price of coal by 3s per ton.