HUNGER AT HAND

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12455, 25 May 1926, Page 7

HUNGER AT HAND

; TRAGEDY OF THE COALFIELDS HALF A MILLION NEEDED WEEKLY FOR FOOD AND MILK Bv Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. - Australian nml N.Z. Cable Association. (Received May 24, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 23. Steves from the "Oldfields shaiv that . the tragedy of the women and ChildTen is becoming very real. The amount of €500,000 a week is needed to provide food and milk. In one statement it is pointed out l that it is impossible to exaggerate the ! immediate needs of the coalfields. The miners are fighting with no fear of starvation, but the actual presence of hunger is established. If no money is raised this week the plight of mothers and babies will be too terrible to imagine. One organised appeal sets. out that even if people believe the miners are wrong they cannot allow women and children to starve in their midst. The correspondents of various newspapers touring tho districts say that everywhere there is gloom and desolation. MR SMITH 7 S~SUGGESTION Reuter's Telegram. An important declaration in regard Jo the proposal for tho reduction of the wages of the miners was made by

Mr Herbert Smith, president of the Miners’ Federation, who said: — Close the uneconomic pits; fix your selling price for inland coal, iso that it will pay an economic wage. Let the owners, the workers and the public have a voice in ’fixing that selling price, and then, if there has to be a reduction in wages, I will face the position. . Mr Smith previously emphatically declared that he would not agree to compulsory arbitration or an extension of hours.

DEADLOCK MAY END SOON

MR BALDWIN LEFT DOOR OPEN A MOVE EXPECTED SHORTLY. Australian and N Z Cable Association. LONDON, May 23. The coal situation remains unchanged At the week-end, though well-in-formed circles are inclined to the view that Mr Baldwin’s outspokenness will produce an effect in the present grave situation before many days. In this connection the “Daily Telegraph s diplomatic correspondent stresses the fact that the Government’s intimation of the withdrawal of the offer of financial aid is regarded as of the greatest (importance. , , There is a feeling that the deadlock will not be allowed to continue. With the risk of losing the grant, the hope is entertained that responsible men m the industry will without further loss of time face the realities of the situation and apply themselves to a settlement in a spirit of determination, Mr Baldwin has left the door wide open. It would be surprising if a new move were not speedily made. The suggestion of a settlement imposed bymeans of legislation is regarded in political circles as a poor substitute for a mutual agreement based on a full and frank appreciation of the economic conditions of the industry.

MINERS’ LEADERS BULLIED

JO ACCEPT WAGE REDUCTIONS MR COOK’S ACCUSATION. Reuter’s Telegram. LONDON, May 23. A bitter attack, especially on Labour’s political leaders, was made by ! Mr A. J. Cook, secretary of the Miners’ Federation, when speaking in the Rhondda Valley. He declared that the miners’ leaders had never been bullied by the employers nor by the Government to the extent to which they had been bullied by certain trade union leaders to accept a reduction in Wages, Mr Cook charged the Trades Union I Congress with discussing the mi ncrs ’ i case with the Prime Minister before the strike in the miners’ absence. Facing them alone he told them in no uncertain language what he thought of them. Tho railwaymen’s leader had left the miners in the lurch and betrayed them. When the miners pleaded with the T.U.C. not to call off the general strike until all workers could resume, Mr J. H. Thomas sneeringly said: “Mind four or?n business.”