THE NEXT MOVE

Southland Times, Issue 19896, 15 June 1926, Page 7

THE NEXT MOVE

BRITAIN’S PROBLEM STRIVING for solution CABINET EXPECTED TO ACT POSSIBLE REPEAL OF SEVEN HOURS ACT (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Rec. 7.5 pan.) London, June 14. Tuesday's debate on the coal situation has been discussed from all angles with a new to a possible solution. It is expected in political circles that Cabinet will ask Parliament to repeal the Seven Hours Act for a time, thus making it posable for the miners to resume work at the individual collieries after making local bargains on the basis of a longer day, pending a general settlement. The present law ordains that a longer day may not be worked more than sixty days in the year. The question of a secret ballot in the coal fields on the continuance of the strike is also under Cabinet discussion. A Bill to repeal the seven hours is certain to arouse strenuous opposition. The Morning Poet emphasises the significance of the Rt. Hon. John Wheatley’s question to Mr Baldwin to-morrow whether the Government is willing to accept the Samuels’ Memorandum as a basis of settlement if the Miners’ Federation agree. The Morning Post asks is the Rt. Hon. Wheatley asking on behalf of the Federation. The order paper of the House of Commons bristles with questions regarding the Russian contribution to the miners. The Communist newspaper, Sunday Worker, in a message from Moscow discloses that on the authority of Tomsky, President of the Council of Trades Unions, that money was not paid to the Trade Union Congress because the English bank refuses to effect the payment of £lOO,OOO to the general council, acting under instructions from the British Government. —A and N.Z. “S O S” CABLE. MINERS APPEAL FOR HELP. The National Committee of Labour (consisting of Messrs A. Cook and J. Roberts, representing the Alliance of Labour; Messrs E. Kennedy, and W. Rogerson, representing the Trades and Labour Councils Federation; and Messrs P. Fraser MP. and W. Nash representing the New Zealand Labour Party, referring to a cablegram received from Messrs Lansbury, Cook and Crawford asking for help for the British miners), make the following statement for publication:— The cablegram received by the National Committee of Labour reveals the serious nature of the position in the coal industry of Great Britain. No mines have been worked since the mine-owners posted the lock-out notices at the pit heads on April 30 last. The export trade is at a complete standstill the mine-owners remain adamant, and the miners with their wives and children approach closer to starvation. It is accepted by all who understand the case that the defeat of the miners can only be accomplished through starvation. The dangers of a victory of this kind—if it can be termed victory-—are many, and its undesirability was stressed by the Prince of Wales, who, when sending through a donation to the Miners’ Wives and Children Fund, said:— “His Royal Highness naturally cannot take sides in any dispute; but we all owe a debt to the miners in the past. Everyone sympathises with their wives and children in their hour of distress. Further, it ■would be an undesirable end to any dispute that one side should have to give in on account of their dependants. His Royal Highness is confident that with goodwill on either side there will be a happy issue out of the present difficulties.” Some days have passed since that letter was written, and the cables report that although negotiations were resumed they have broken down owing to the continued demand of the mine-owners for reduced wages or extended hours. PARTIES IN DISPUTE. The three chief parties to the dispute are: The Coal-owners:—Who desire to return to district agreements, longer hours, reduced wages and no Government interference. The Miners:—Who say that the coal deposits of Great Britain should be used for the benefit of the people of Great Britdin —that their labour in winning the coal from the mines entitles them to a living standard equal at least to pre-war. That the hazardous nature erf their employment is such that the average daily period underground (71 hours) should not be extended. That given a firing wage, and reasonable hours, they would co-operate to the fullest extent in any reorganised scheme that would place the whole of the industry on an economic basis. The Government: —Who, by leaving the mine-owners and miners to fight it out among themselves, have ranged themselves on the side of the mine-owners. PAYING THE PRICE. The miners, their wives and children, are paying the price. Their suffering and hardships are reduced by the sacrifice of many workers—and by the gifts of those who realise the hardness of the miners’ lot and the meagre pay they receive. The National Committee of Labour has already forwarded £2,000 as a contribution from New Zealand towards the Distress Fund; but the extent of the distress can be estimated from the fact that between four and five millions of men, women and children are dependent for bread and shelter on voluntary contributions of sympathiser*, (To provide food to the value of 2/6 per week for each child, mother and miner, £500.000 per week is required). The National Committee of Labour have sent out a further appeal, and urge all who are able to give what they can to prevent the miners “havir-; to give in on account of the sufferings their dependants.”