SCOTTISH MINERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 28

SCOTTISH MINERS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

LONDON, December 29. At the annual conference at Glasgow of the Scottish Miners' Conference a proposal to ask Parliament to compel the coalmasters to collect tihe. miners' union funds at the colliery offices was negatived by 58 to 43. * '. ' / A resolution was expressing the extreme disappointment of the conference that a scheme of old-age pensions was not provided for in last year's Budget. At the instance of .Lord Monkswell s Royal Commission, Dr J. C. S. Haldane will inspect the' houses of the .Scotch miners, with, a view to making recommendations concerning, the better housing of the miners. - ■ December 30. - Mr Smellie (president), in addressing the ■ Scottish Miners' federation Oinference, compared, unfavourably to Scotland, J-he conditions of work and housing in- Scotland and ■Westphalia* He emphasised "the large and growing army of unemployed'in Glasgow and other industrial centres, and urged the Government to deal with the unemployed difficulties. Efe denied that the epithet of "robbery" applied to*the proposal to restore stolen property to its rightful owners.— (Cheers;) The true salvation of the "country lay through Socialism, and through' holding land, railways,. ; and mines as a. means of production and work on behalf of the whole. £eosle in--

stead of for private profit for a few. — J (Cheers.) All the holders of land and ■wealth were against them, and it would be to the: workers' interest if they could secure -what these people poeeeseed at pre- j sent. — (Cheers.) |