BRITISH COAL CRISIS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17108, 14 November 1929, Page 7

BRITISH COAL CRISIS

STILL NO SETTLEMENT NATIONAL BOARD SUGGESTED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Nov. 12. Tin* coal industry negotiations assumed a new phase to-dav, when for tin* first time Die Prime Minister took part in them. In the morning lie and members of the Cabinet. Coal Committee met representative coal-owners. This afternoon they received representatives of the miners’ executive. The chief, difficulty confronting the Government is the contention of the owners that it would he impossible for hours to he reduced from eight to seven and a-half without a commensurate reduction in wages. Another difficulty is created by the insistence of the miners on a national wages agreement. The owners state they will under no circumstances depart from the present practice of district, agreement. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet 'Coal Committee are making a strenuous effort to overcome these difficulties. Tt is understood that they discussed with the coal-owners to-day the question of setting up a national board for the mining industry as an alternative to a national agreement. The suggested national hoard would he comparable with the National Wages Board already existing for the railways, which is working very satisfactorily. It would he in the nature of a tribunal to which appeals could he made in the event, of the owners .proposing a reduction of wages in any district consequent on the reduction of hours.