THE MINING DEADLOCK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19802, 29 May 1926, Page 11

THE MINING DEADLOCK

STALEMATE CONTINUES. GOVERNMENT MEDIATION. EVERY AVENUE EXHAUSTED. (Freu Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, May 27. Downing street semi-officially repudiates the story that the Government is hoping for individual coal settlements, because it cannot disregard the normal machinery of negotiation. The Government feels that it has exhausted every avenue of approach, and is therefore waiting for the parties to reconsider the position before the offer of the subsidy lapses on May 31. Meanwhile householders are rationed, each being allowed lewt of coal per fortnight. Hopes have been built on the chance of the miners accepting an eight-hour day without a reduction of wages, but the Cannock Chase miners unanimously turned down a separate offer on that basis.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

BOTH SIDES MARK TIME. WITHDRAWAL OF SUBSIDY OFFER CERTAIN. LONDON, May 28. (Received May 28, at 8 p.m.) Mr Baldwin held a conference with the Coal Committee. It is understood that it is intended strictly to enforce the decision to withdraw the offer of a subsidy of £300,000,000 on Monday night. No official move is likely in the meantime unless the miners or owners make new proposals.—A. and N.Z. Cable. RATIONING OF COAL. DRASTIC REGULATIONS ENFORCED. MORE SCARCE THAN IN WARTIME. LONDON, May 27. Owing to dwindling coal supplies the Mines Department has issued new rationing regulations. These are more drastic than those which were enforced in wartime. They prohibit the display of advertisement lighting, and permit only lights which are essential to the protection of property and the public safety. They cut down the coal supply for gas and electric companies and shops to half their normal consumption. Heavy penalties are provided in the event of disobedience. —Sydney Sun Cable.

RAILWAY COMPANY’S LOSSES. NEARLY SIX AND A-HALF MILLIONS. LONDON, May 27. The gross losses of the four railway companies due to the general strike and the cool strike are £6,490,000, according to the Railway Gazette, which points out that prior to’ May 1 each company had secured receipts for the current year substantially higher than for the corresponding period of 1925. The returns for the week ended May 23 show that these increases have been more than wiped out for the year.—Reuter. PRINTING TRADES DISPUTE A NATIONAL SETTLEMENT. LONDON, May 27. The Federation of Master Printers |and the Newspaper Society to-day agreed to a national settlement with the Printing and Kindred Federation, providing for a continuance of the agreements existing prior to May 1. The settlement contains provisions for the prevention of lightning strikes, and stipulates that there shall be no interference with the contents of newspapers or periodicals published by members of the employers’ organisations. —Reuter.