BRITISH MINING INDUSTRY

Otago Witness, Issue 3494, 22 February 1921, Page 17

BRITISH MINING INDUSTRY

A DEADLOCK INEVITABLE. LONDON, February 17. A dangerous situation appears to be approaching in the mining industry. The miners are opposed to the owners’ proposals that wages made should depend largely upon the profits, and they demand a new standard which shall incorporate a greater part of the present earnings. The owners are almost certain to resist, and a deadlock appears to be inevitable. The Government control of prices terminates at the end of March. The owners declared that it would be impossible to carry on unless the prices were raised and wages reduced. The miners intimated that they will not accept any reduction. Meanwhile the coal export trade is practically at ■ standstill, and unprofitable collieries are being closed. COAL FOR GERMANY. LONDON, February 13. The Daily Chronicle's Ber'in correspondent says that arrangements are being made for the export of English coal, to be delivered at Hamburg at 110 s per ton, whence it will be transported to Berlin for use in factories. The cost is about 100 marks more than German coal; meanwhile 450,000 tons of Silesian coal is being delivered to France monthly. Railway transport at Berlin will be difficult for some time. Owing to the coal shortage the Berlin works which are dependent upon electricity have been working only at night time. It is 'expected that the consignments of English coal will enable 40,000 Berliners to revert to day work. BIG PURCHASE FOR NEW ZEALAND. LONDON, February 19. The Anglo-New Zealand firm of Neagle has purchased 150,000 tons of Welsh coal on behalf of the New Zealand railways. Sir James Allen (High Commissioner) previously purchased 30.000 tons. It is explained that Welsh is now cheaper than American.