BRITISH COAL TRADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19764, 15 April 1926, Page 9

BRITISH COAL TRADE

MINERS FORMULATE TERMS. NATIONAL AGREEMENT FAVOURED. (preii Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. > LONDON, April 13. The Miners’ Executive spent four hours in drawing up a reply to the Coal Commission s recommendations for submission to the coal owners. The reply, which, like that of the coal owners, examines each recommendation, says that no wage is acceptable which does not provide at least a wage sufficient to furnish a decent living standard. The miners entirely disagree with the suggestion that districts should settle the minimum percentage, and express the opinion that the national bodies are fully competent to deal with the wage agreement and the question of uniform basis. They do not consider that the suggestion c-f redistributing the weekly hours over a five-days’ week as practical and they disapprove of the suggestion to compensate the present owners tor minerals except those who purchased them. They express willingness to consider multiple shifts, and consider that both sides should, as early as possible, formulate a national agreement by which the minimum percentage is determined.—Renter. A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. NEXT MOVE WITH MR BALDWIN. LONDON, April 14. (Received April 14, at 9.30 p.m.) The best informed people do not regard the coal deadlock as final. They are cf opinion that the question of national versus district agreements will be ultimately overcome, while as regards the reduction of wages both sides are hampered by not knowing the extent of the Government’s promise of assistance after the subsidy. It is hinted that this might be given in the form of enabling wages to be reduced, where necessary, gradually over a period of months instead of immediately. At any rate the general belief is that the next move rests with Mr Baldwin.— Reuter. AN UNEXPECTED HITCH. DIVERGENCE REGARDING MINIMUM WAGE. LONDON, April 14. (Received April 14, at 11.60 p.m.) Though nobody expected the owners’ and miners’ standpoints to be easily reconciled a deadlock at an early stage of the negotiations came as a surprise. It appears from a statement issued by the owners that the breakdown was mainly due to a divergence regarding the methods of fixing the minimum wage. The miners pressed the owners to table the figures ■which they proposed should constitute, the minimum in the various districts. The owners insisted that this was a matter in the first place for district consideration. It is believed that Mr Baldwin, who. is following the negotiations closely, will intervene quickly.—Reuter.