ADAMANT OWNERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17133, 8 September 1926, Page 7

ADAMANT OWNERS

COAL STRIKE CRISIS

NO NATIONAL AGREEMENT MILITATES AGAINST PEACE Elec Tel. Copyright- Ouited Press Assu. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, September 7. The meeting of Cabinet, the Coal Committee, and representatives of the Mining Association this afternoon lasted for two hoars. An official report shows that Mr. Winston Churchill and other members of the committee pleaded with the association to meet the miners and discuss the questions at issue, including a. national agreement. Mr. Evan Williams, in reply, emphasised that the association will not eutet into negotiations with the Miners' Federation on a national agreement .scheme. He declared there had never been peace in the industry since they had national agreements.

Mr. Churchill emphasised that it the Mining Associations bad Anally decided never to negotiate on a national basis, then the Government wotijd have to move forward upon its own course of action. lie earnestly hoped that the association would seek from its constituents the authority to enter into a discussion. It would be a very serious disaster for the association to take up an unalterable attitude at present.

Mr. AVilliams .said they could not seek the power to do what they felt was wrong, but they would submit the facts to a meeting of their central committee to-morrow and take their opinion. MR. CHURCHILL'S PLEA. Mr. Winston Churchill contended that, the Government was justified, in believing that, when it introduced flic Mines Eight Hours Bill, there would be no question of departing from negotiations for a national agreement. lie was quite sure that, had the Government known that, after the passage, of the Eight Hours Bill, the national agreement door to peace would have been closed, they would never have passed the Bill. He earnestly asked the mineowners to consider most carefully their attitude to the Government's request, and then meet the men in an open unprejudiced discussion. lie honestly believed there had been a- change of heart on the part of the miners, and there was an earned wish for peace, and willingness to discuss the differences on their merits, with a- sincere desire to secure the greatest benefits for nil concerned in every aspect of (tie question. The expression " reduction in labor costs " in the miners' letter io the Government had been deliberately chosen, and covered every-thing--wages, hours and reorganisation. Mr. Evan AVilliams, in reply, asserted that the Government had never suggested that- the Eighl Hours Bill was conditional upon a national agreement. If was clearly understood between them that there was no question of a general resumption of work simultaneously, but that if would be by districts. Mr. RteeleMailland. Sir Worthington Evans, and Mr. Bridgeinan argued in favor of putting the district agreements in a form which could he ratified by representatives of the men and owners nationally.