COAL MINING INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20875, 15 November 1929, Page 9

COAL MINING INDUSTRY

THE YORKSHIRE OWNERS. REDUCED. HOURS AGREED TO. (United Press Association.) • (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, November 13. (Received Nov. 14, at 5.5 p.m.) Despite the Mining Association’s rejection of the Government's coal scheme, Yorkshire mine-owners passed a resolution to-day accepting a reduction of hours to seven and a-half and the Government's marketing scheme, which they considered sound and likely to promote the interests of the industry. PROPOSED LEGISLATION. SUPPORT FROM THE MINERS. LONDON, November 14, (Received Nov. 14, at 10 p.m.) The Cabinet last night received from the executive of the Miners’ Federation assurances 'of their support for the Cabinet’s pending legislation dealing with hours and so forth. The Daily Herald says the Bill will include a provision as a reply to the owners’ refusal to negotiate for a national agreement. THE CRISIS IN AUSTRALIA. REDUCED WAGES THE SOLUTION. SYDNEY, November 14. (Received Nov. 14, at 11 p.m.) Mr Charles Hibble, chairman of the compulsory Coal Conference, in reporting on the failure of the negotiations to-day, declared that the only solution was the acceptance by the men of a reduction in wages of Is a ton on the costs collectively spread over the whole of the contracts and the “ offhand ” employees; the actual incidence of which was a matter for the parties. He added that it was quite impossible for the mines to function' further under the present conditions without a substantial tangible reduction in the selling price of coal. “ I am convinced,” he said. “ that this is really the only way out. The coal owners are willing to forgo Is a ton, while the State Government is prepared to bear 2s for haulage. I hope the men will resume shortly and that the greatly increased volume of trade occasioned by the price reduction will be of advantage to all concerned.”