OFFER TO MINERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17755, 14 April 1921, Page 5

OFFER TO MINERS

STANDARD WAGES

AN IMMEDIATE REJECTION.

NATIONAL POOL DEMANDED.

NO SIGN OF COMPROMISE.

s'HiIKE TO CONTINUE. er»;--h—Press Association—Copyright. ReceivM 1-2.30 a.m.') • l - * ; x - '- LONDON, April VI. ! bulletin states that the con- '""• ' '-' ' "■' - wiiers. miners and Governr« :-re.-eh!atives. after considering ■ >vc: •me»-t's proposals, adjourned. ■:< '•■■' '"s intimating that they would '"'■•' it* v i!': the Government in .rpv message states that Mr. F 71 "-"'■■ ■-'• <"et,iry of the Miners' Federah.<« written to M r . Lloyd George. '' '' : ~ " ,! ''"><' executive had considered •'"■-' •''"*> proposed terms. hut u ""-~ "" : ,: ''''i to reject them, as the offer * '.;. ' -'l'l'-.'-n ..f the piescnt dispute. '•ncn-ment informed the confer- '■'"■'■ ' k P""'ling arrangement was :: "" : '' ,: * y !l w as not feasible with- ■'- -i resumption of permanent control of '• : '- ''. v *' !e s tate, and a voluntary ■ -.en .. would inevitably break down. Standard Profits and Wages.

R'Vir.iif.jr a national settlement of the Government suggested that "•-re should be in each district a standard wage wfuch should be the first -barge, on the proceeds of the industry, ■v. i no pr.-fits should he payable until the = :*ndar.i wag* was satisfied. The princ pie o n which the standard was fixed

'• ■■•.i*;d bn dftermined nationally, and the a.riK".i:u to be settled for each district - . 'lid be discussed by the present conference. The method of adjustment of «aces in each district should also be determined nationally. In determining the standard wage, regard should be paid not merely to the price of coal, but to the possibilities of improving bv inrreased economy and efficiencv.

The question of the relation of an owner <• standard profit to a miner's laandard wage should be immediately examined by the conference.

VJ hen the coalowners and miners -were s-creed upon wages, the Government would give assistance' for a short time in order to mitigate the rapid reduction of wages in some districts.

Miners Suggest Coal Board.

After the Government's proposals were disclosed, Mr, Herbert Smith, on behalf of the Miners' Federation, addressed the conference. He said: "We are disappointed again with the Government's scheme. Apart from the offer to subsidise poor mines it is the on ners' scheme. We are out for a national wages board, it may be you have it in your minds to Marve us into submission, but it is a bad thing for the country when a case has to be won through the sufferings of women and children. I would to God we could avoid it, but we cannot make the settlement vera have indicated. We are bemd to faoe the consequences,"

Mr. F. Hodges made an urgent plea for = national pool, saying that coal in bad distiicts as well as coal in good was required. Because men struck a good seam it was not right that it should be exploited regardless of those working in a bad geological area. If workmen in zood areas were willing to make sacrifices, the owners should be prepared to make sacrifices for their less fortunate brethren. Mr. Hodges proposed a national coal board, consisting of 26 mineowners and 26 miners, which should determine what levy to impose upon the tonnage raised at every mirj°.

Mr Lloyd George said that Mr. Hodges' scheme would so completely bea4 down the industry that it would not be worth while for anybody to pick it up. If there was going to be nationalisation, let it be the real thing. It was absolutely impossible to such a scheme through the House of Commons.

NO TRIPLE STRIKE.

POSTPONEMENT ANNOUNCED.

-TO AWAIT FURTHER ORDERS." A and N.Z. LONDON. April 12. Mr. J. U. Thomas announces that the strike of railwaymen and transport workers, which had been fixed by the Triple Alliance to operate to-night if negotiations with the miners were not resumed, will not cake place. The railwaymen and transport workers will await further orders.

EX-SOLDIERS' ATTITUDE.

TO DEFEND THEIR COUNTRY. A. and N.Z- LONDON, April 11. j The Midlands branch of the Discharged ! fvoldiers' Federation has issued £ mani- . f<*lo sta'ing: "W« are not roncerned with j the rights and wrongs of the present dis- j pute, but we are concerned on behalf of | the country for which we fought and which is in danger of being brought to ! the brink of ruin by foolish and reckless ; action. We have already had riots in j v ! ••(] the. saiTie 1 ringleaders appeared who I 'i*d strikes during the war, others being j fr.rt-urjers who desire to see Britain re- ! dnc-d to Russia's condition."