BRITISH COAL CRISIS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17455, 2 January 1931, Page 7

BRITISH COAL CRISIS

TEMPORARY STOPPAGE OWNERS REMAIN PIRM LONDON, Jan. 1. The .Miners' Federation has officially announced that it has instructed the South Wales miners not to work tomorrow. li is hoped the stoppage will be brief. Negotiations will be reopened before instructions are issued. Strenuous efforts are being made by representatives of the Mines Department, who consulted the miners' leaders and approached the chairman of the Coal Owners' Federation, who refused to depart from the terms already offered. The Government made an unsuccessful effort yesterday to bring about a resumption of negotiations In the South Wales coalfields, and although a stoppage of work began to-day it is hoped that it will be of short duration. A meeting of the Conciliation Board has been called for Saturday. Probably 15,000 men are involved. Xo open concession has been made by the owners, who adhere to the main point that a readjustment of hours must involve a reduction of wages. The decision of the miners' executive to agre to an examination of the possibilities by the Conciliation Board as to an extension to July of the present terms of employment .suggests a readiness on their part to reconsider the earlier opposition to the spreadover arrangement, adversely affecting wages.