STANDING FIRM

Southland Times, Issue 19899, 18 June 1926, Page 7

STANDING FIRM

MINERS’ SOLID FRONT MR BALDWIN’S STATEMENT “NOT A PEACE ANGEL.” (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) London, June 16. "Instead of bringing peace Mr Baldwin’s statement will cause Labour to unsheath the sword in defence of the standard of living,” declared Mr A. J. Cook (secretary of the Miners' Federation!, in a bitter statement. ‘ He added:—“Mr Baldwin has confirmed what we always thought—that he is nothing more nor less than the owners’ advocate. He sided with the owners in the face of his own Coal Commission’s finding against increased hours, and he must have known that such a suggestion would be fought to the last ditch by the miners, and probably the whole of organised Labour. No attempt legislatively to lengthen hours will be agreed to. Even if starvation drives back the miners to the conditions which they have always resisted there will be strong and solid opposition to working more than seven hours. No arrangements have been made to recall the Miners’ Executive, and it i$ obvious that while the situation continues as it is there will be no solution.” GOVERNMENT’S POLICY CONDEMNED. LABOUR TO RESIST PROPOSALS. London, June 16. A meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party, presided over by Mr Ramsay MacDonald, passed a resolution condemning the Government’s policy in the coal dispute, as declared by Mr Baldwin in the Commons yesterday, and decided to offer strenuous resistance to his proposals.—Reuter. MINERS AND RUSSIAN MONEY. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, June 16. The Daily Mail states that the Government has decided not to take any action to prevent the Russians from assisting the miners.—Sun Cable. NEW WAGE SCHEDULE. THE NEXT DEVELOPMENT. OWNERS’ INDUCEMENT. (Rec. 11.5 p.m.) London, July 17. The coal-owners are working out a new wage schedule based on the eight hours day. Indications are that the next development. after the passing of the Hours Bill, will be the posting of fresh notices in the collieries announcing that work can be resumed immediately on these terms. The opinion is held in some quarters that whatever the leaders may say the men will then be ready for resumption, and once a breakaway begins it will progress irresistibly. The Daily Telegraph Labour correspondent says in the districts producing fifty per cent, of the coal output owners have undertaken to pay pre-strike rates on eight hours day for the next three months.—A. N.Z. RESULT OF STOPPAGE. RUHR STOCKS REDUCED. Berlin, June 16. Since the beginning of the coal strike in Britain pit-head stocks in the Ruhr have been reduced by about 900,000 tons. New long-term contracts with home and foreign consumers are being concluded daily. The stoppage, if it lasts much longer, will result in increasing the production of coal not only in the Ruhr, but also in Silesia. British railway companies are already inquiring in regard to Silesian coal.—Reuter.