MINIMUM WAGE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 8054, 7 March 1912, Page 5

MINIMUM WAGE

MINERS’ DEMAND TO BE MET BY GOVERNMENT BILL IN COMMONS TO-DAY B' Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Received March 6, 11.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 6. Tli© “ Daily Chronicle ” predicts that the Government to-morrow will introduce a Bill establishing the principle of the minimum wage.

Tho “ Daily Telegraph ” says that as a result of inquiries among miners and their lenders the Cabinet anticipates a satisfactory settlement within a week. The paper adds that the men are likely slightly to modify tho wage schedule, enabling the owners to reconsider the main points on which their opposition is based.

The coal-owners reassemble to-day for a further conference with tho Premier.

The Miners’ Federation has informed tho transport workers that it will not bo necessary to declare a sympathetic strike.

Air A. V. Dicey, of Oxford University, in a letter to “ The Times,” urges the repeal of the Trades Disputes Act. as neither masters nor men should possess the privilege of committing wrongs. He recommends adequate protection for miners where the right to work is menaced.

Mr W. T. Stead, writing in # “The Times,” suggests that the nation should guarantee the mine-owners against any loss during a three months’ trial of the minimum wage, and thus obtain a date to arrange a permanent settlement.

Twenty steamers have been ’ chartered to convey American and Westphalian coal to the Mediterranean and South American depots, heretofore supplied from Wales. Officials are caring for tho Whitburn pit ponies, which the miners refused to allow to bo fed. A crowd at Ryhope, in Durham, overpowered a watchman and looted some coal waggons. IN .THE HOUSE. ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER. LONDON, March 5. 1 Mr Asquith, Prime Minister, speaking in the House of Commons, paid a tribute to both sides in the colliery dispute for the skill and calmness with which they had’ presented their cases. He affirmed that the Government’s acceptance of the principle of a minimum wage was subject to two conditions—first, that the wage must vary according to tho district, and, seoo’nd, that it must be accompanied by safeguards protecting the masters against any diminution of output. He treated the miners’ fixed schedule as outside tho range of the negotiations, but still hoped-that a reasonable minimum wage would be arranged. •. - •■■ _ Mr Bonar Law, leader of the Opposition, said he would N not dream of criticising the Government. He did not desire to discuss the question. Tho Opposition would not make the Govern, ment’s task more difficult.

MILLIONS AFFECTED

CURTAILMENT OP SUBURBAN TRAIN SERVICES. COLONIAL STRIKE LAWS CITED. LONDON, March 5. Five million men, women, and children are directly affected -by , the strike. !

The suburban trains are, immensely overcrowded. sometimes. The services have been reduced by 20 per cent. Mr Philip Snowden, Socialist M.P.. writing to tho “ Christian Commonwealth,” says . the miners have had a tremendous victory in obtaining what the Government has already offered. It would be a thousand pities if a stiff-necked, attitude, should alienate public sympathy.

The Board of Trade has issued the texts of the laws of British Dominions and elsewhere relating to strikes. _ Many newspapers in their articles cite Australian methods.

The “ Daily Chronicle ” says that in all the great colonial laws fines and imprisonment are the penalties for sinking workmen and unions. The progressive parties in Britain must face this, as tho Dominions have done. _ i INDUSTRIAL COUNCIL . MAKES EFFORT TO END THE DEADLOCK. LONDON, March 5. Tile. Industrial Council is making an endeavour to remove the deadlock.

GENERAL ITEMS

LONDON, March 5. Many Australian steamers are delayed owing to the coal strike. Others are excluding part of their cargoes and filling the space with coal, which is obtainable at Las Palmas, where suppiies'aro being reserved for Homeward steamers.

Patrick Daly, organiser of the Irish transport workers, was sentenced at Wexford tp a month’s imprisonment for a violent speech on the labour troubles. '

The Labour party has given notice of motion in the House of Commons for the appointment of a committee to consider the question of the middleman exploiting the public by raising the price of coal.. FOREIGN UNIONS’ ACTION. BRUSSELS, March 5. The International Union of Transport Workers has decided to impede the exportation of German, Belgian, and French coal to England.