THE COAL CRISIS

Otago Witness, Issue 3509, 14 June 1921, Page 15

THE COAL CRISIS

DERBYSHIRE COLLIERIES. LONDON, June 4. The Swanwiek collieries in Derbyshire, which normally employ 1000 men, have reopened. The men accepted a flat rate reduction oE 2s 6d per shift, with mutual undertakings to abide by the terms of the general settlement. In consequence of the Yorkshire Aliners Association’s protests Earl Fitzwiliiam has stopped the exploitation of an outcrop of a seam which was recently discovered cn the Tinsley Park estate. It has been yielding 2000 tons of coal daily. THE GO VERNA! ENT'S OFFER. LONDON, June 5. Air Lloyd George's letter setting a time limit to the Government's £10,000,009 offer completely surprised the Aliners Executive, and has created a new situj tion. It is not known whether tho execu tivo will take the hint and arrange a ballot or leave the' responsibility for a de cision to a conference of delegates. At the conference between tlie miners and owners, Ah - Evan Williams, on behalf of, the owners, said that the owners, as well as the miners, were in a precacous position; therefore, he asked the miners to confer with the owners, wno previously did not realise the extent of the proposed reductions in wages. They now realised that a subsistence wage to; the lowest-paid workers must bo guaranteed, also a standard living wage, below which there would be no reduction. I be owners now suggested a flat-rate redo tion of 3s per shift for six months. This would stabilise wage conditions and would enable the poorer districts to reap the benefit of the Government subsidy. The owners were optimistic regarding the future of the coal industry, despite the depression. Mr Smith replied in a speech, which was not reported, but which was described as savage in the extreme. The owner's listened to it good -temperedly. Tho coal owners and miners had a full and frank discussion. There undoubtedly is a desire to reach a settlement during tho fortnight in which the Government's

offer cf £10,C00,000 is available. Thou s li Air Smith's speech was far from conciliatory and nearly wrecked the good intentions wherewith the meeting opened, the conference continued to discuss the possibility of a new standard wage. i'he owners are prepared to base their profits on the workmen’s 1914 wages, but tiio miners ask for the 1920 standard plus trio existing percentage. The difference expressed in the wages per shift is considerable. The conference will to-morrow consider how the standard wage can bo modified. In view of the opinions expressed across the table, once the miners and owners are agreed regarding too standard wage, a settlement will bo within sight. CHASING A WILL-O’-THE-WISP. LONDON, June 6. Owing to the lack of funds the Aliners* Executive is asking the district associations to postpone the annual conference, which had been arranged to be held at Llandudno in July. It is stated that tha lack of money will not permit the miners to scud a full delegation to the Labour Party .s annual conference at Brighton. Air Thomas Spencer, a trustee of the Derbyshire Aliners’ Association, states that the miners’ leaders must recognise that they are beaten on the pool question. Neither the nation nor the Government will have the pool at anv price. The sooner that they get this fact into their minds the better. The leaders, he says, have been chasing a will-o’-the-wisp while thousands of miners’ families are starving. BOLSHEVIST SYMPATHY. PETROGRAD, June 5. lhe journal Alachovik announces that the Central Council of Soviet Trade Unions is sending £20,000 to the English miners. It declares that it is the duty of the Russian proletariat to support a revolutionary movement in all countries, whether in the form of strikes, rebellion, otherwise. CONFERENCE A DJOURNS. LONDON. June 7. obe Coal Conference adjourned to enable the miners and tlie owners separately to discuss the points raised. It will resume to-morrow. The outlook is considered more hopeful. The Aliners’ Executive lias summoned a conference of tha federation for Friday, to which the owners’ proposals will be submitted, with a recommendation that they be submitted to a ballot of the miners. The Knowle colliery at Rochdale lias resumed work on condition that the men are granted the full benefits of any general settlement. The Mansfield miners are signing a petition protesting aganst the continuance of the .ftrike. RESULT OF BALLOT AWAITED. LONDON, June 9. The executive of the Miners’ Committee and the Central Committee of the Mineowners’ Association have concluded their sittings. A complete explanation has been obtained on all the points at issue. A further meeting between the two bodies has been adjourned until after the miners’ ballot on the acceptance of the owners’ proposals. BALLOT TO BE TAKEN. LONDON, June 10. A meeting of the National Federation of Aliners decided to take a ballot on tho terms submitted by the coal owners. Tlie result will be announced on June 17. A two-thirds majority will be required to continue the strike. The miners’ ballot paper specifically asks whether the men are prepared to drop the national pool. It is understood that tlie owners have assured the men of the 1914 wages as tho basis fo-r one year.

WAGES AND PROFITS LINKED. LONDON, June 10. The miners’ ballot paper states that tlie first reduction in wages will not exceed 2s a shift for all workers 16 years and upwards, and Is a shift for workers under 16. There will be no further reduction until August 1, and any further reductions after August will be agreed upon mutually until the Government grant is exhausted. The temporary agreement will end as soon as the Government grant is used up. As regards a permanent scheme, the owners propose a National Board to fix principles for the guidance of District Boards, comprising an equal number of mine owners and miners, with an independent chairman. The parties have already agreed upon the principle that the profits shall be fixed on a percentage of the wages paid, and the board will fix the percentage of profits to wages and the amount of tlie new standard wage. Tho owners have offered to accept as tho standard the wages paid in July, 1914, plus district additions, plus a percentage to pieceworkers (caused by the reduction of hours from eight to seven), and a minimum of 20 per cent, added thereto. This minimum will continue until June, 1922. The wages under the permanent scheme are to be based on the capacity of each district to pay. If day workers do not receive a subsistence wage, the District Board will fix the wage. The decisions of the National Board aro to be binding on both parties for one year thereafter and made subject to three months’ notice. The ballot papers are returnable on June 17. Air Smith states that a two-thirds majority is required for a continuance of the strike.