COALMINING DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19383, 19 July 1926, Page 9

COALMINING DISPUTE.

X 0 FURTHER SUBSIDY. MR. BALDWIN'S REFUSAL. STRIKE LEADERS' TERMS. LESS STUBBORN ATTITUDE. MOVES TOWARD PEACE. n.v Telegraph—Press Association- Copyright. (Received 8.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z.-Renter. LONDON. July IS. The I rime Minister definitely refused to consider the granting of an extension of the subsidy to the coalmining industry in his reply to the proposal of the bishops and other Church leaders. Ho offered to receive a deputation from the churches. Mr. Baldwin stated that the terms on which work could be resumed were not wiinin the power of the Government to del ermine, 'I hese could only be settled bv agreement between the owners and the miners. Mr. Arthur Henderson, Labour member for Burnley, speaking at Wallsend, said he considered that the Government should undertake to provide a loan for the coalmining industry on the easiest possible terms. A member of the executive of the Miners' Federation stated yesterday that the executive had accepted the bishops' proposals as the only avenue to peace. It believed there would be negotiations on this basis in the coming week. The Trades Union Congress had been told bluntly that the miners would not permit them to " butt in" on the negotiations. The annual report of the Transport and General Workers' Union shows that the assets and funds at the end of 1925 were £500,0C0. All this had been spent in connection with the miners' struggle. Men Ready for Lower Wages. An important development in the coal strike, which had lasted 11 weeks up to last night, takes the form of a statement to the Daily Express by Mr. A. J. Cook, general secretary of the Miners' Federation. He said:— " We are not willing to consider longer hours, but if the Coal Commissioners would interpret their own words on reorganisation, and if we could have an assurance that those terms would be put into force, we should be willing to discuss such a reduction in wages as might prove necessary. " We should require that the miners should return to work on the terms which were in force before the strike, while negotiations were proceeding." The Express says there is* a possibility of a new appeal to the nation being made by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Morning Post says that notwithstanding appearances events are moving toward a settlement of the dispute. Leaders Expecting a Ree?ll. Several leaders of the miners, before they returned to their own districts on Friday, expressed a strong belief that they would be called back in a few days to discuss a new formula for a settlement arising out of the recent discussion by the industrial and Christian fellowship. The miners, however, are solidly opposed to the idea of arbitration in the event of a disagreement. In support of the report to the effect that the conference with the Trades Union Congress on Thursday was very bitter, it is stated that the executive of the Miners' Federation has now informed the congress that it will not allow the dispute to be taken out of its hands. Renewed efforts are being made to securo an embargo oil the handling of foreign coal, but the refusal of the railwavmen to consider this has made it impossible for the congress to act. However, it will shortly make an international appeal on behalf of the miners. Mr. Herbert Smith, president, and Mr. Cook have both been re-elected to those positions by the miners' executive.