THE GOAL CRISIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18051, 27 September 1920, Page 5

THE GOAL CRISIS

POSTPONEMENT OF STRIKE,

A WEEK'S GRACE. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, September 24. ■The miners have postponed their strike for a week.—A. and N.Z. Cable. LONDON, September 25. (Received Sept. 26, at 5.5 p.m.) The miners' decision to postpone the strike notices for a week was the outcome of a suggestion by Mr Thomas (railwaymen's leader) that the miners' executive should again meet Mr Lloyd George with a .view to the possibility of averting a strike. Subsequently Mr 'Smillio and other leaders met Mr Lloyd Georgo and Mr Bonar Law, the President of the Board of Trade and the Coal Controller. After Mr Smillie had announced that in view of the Government's inability to concede an immediato increase, the miners could not suspend their notices or prevent a strike, Mr Lloyd George pointed out that only 24 hours remained before they would plunge over a -precipice. Ho asked that the notices be suspended for a week in order to meet the owners. Hβ was assured it would not take two days to discover a basis upon -which the wages could be made dependent upon the output, and within a month the miners would secure an appreciable increase in wages. At a later meeting the miners' executive agreed to recommend the miners' delegates to suspend the strike notices for a week in order to meet the coal owners to discuss Mr Lloyd George's plan for payment According to output.—Reuter. THE OUTLOOK BRIGHTER. AN AMICABLE CONFERENCE. LONDON, September 25. (Received Sept. 26, at 11.5 p.m.) The coal owners' and miners' delegates conferred amicably for 2£ hours regarding the output and wages, and adjourned until Monday. The miners will endeavour to get a datum line output fixed low enough to give an immediate increase in wages.. It is pointed out that the output would be materially increased if all tho miners would work the full number of shifts instead of attending football matches and other sports • during working hours— A. and N.Z. Cable. THE COAL TRUCE. GREETED WITH JOY BELLS; LONDON, September 26. (Received Sept. 25, at 11.55 p.rfi.) The coal truce was greeted with iov bells—A. and N.Z. Cable.

TRANSPORT WORKERS 5 FEDERATION.

LONDON, September 26.

(Received Sept. 27, at 6.45 a.m.) The executive of the Transport Workers Federation is consulting the affiliated unions with a view to acquiring powers equal to those of the two other sections of the Triple Alliance, in order to deal ; with the present crisis. The circular adds : "We are assured by the miners' leaders that the crisis is in nowise over, and that positive action of a strike character may face us in the next few davs A. and N.Z. Cable. "