MINERS' CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1920, Page 5

MINERS' CRISIS.

STRIKE NOTICES POSTPONED. MEN TO MEET THE OWNERS, PAYMENT BY, OUTPUT, By Telegrai>h.-*-Pre39 Assn.—Copyright Received Sept. 26, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 24. The miners have postponed the strike notices for a week. The miners' decision was the outcome of a suggestion by Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P. (the railwaymen's leader), that the miners' executive should again meet Mr. Lloyd George, with a view of a possibility of averting a strike. Subsequently Mr. Robert Smillie (the miners' leader) and other leaders met Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Bonar Law, the President of the Board of Trade (Sir Robert Home), and the Coal Controller. After Mr. Smillie announced that, in view of the Government's inability to grant an immediate increase, the miners could not suspend the notices or prevent a strike, Mr. Lloyd George pointed out that only twenty-four hours before the plunge over the percipice lie asked that notices be suspended for a week to meet the owners. He was assured that it would not take two days to discover a basis upon which wage 3 could be made dependent upon output, and within a month the miners would secure an appreciable increase in wages. At a later meeting the miners' executive agreed to recommend the miners' delegates to suspend the notices for a week, in order to meet the coal owners to discuss Mr. Lloyd George's plan for payment according to output;— Times Service.

OWNERS MEET THE MEN. AN AMICABLE CONFERENCE. Received Sept. 26, ,11.5 p.m. London, Sept. 25. The coal-owners' and the miners' delegates conferred amicably for two and a half hoira regarding output and wages, and adjourned until Monday. The miners will endeavor to get the output fixed so as to give an immediate increase in wages. It is pointed out that the output will be materially increased if all miners would work the full number of shifts instead of attending football matches and other sports during working hours.—Aus.-NX Cable Assn. \ MINERS RING JOY BELLS. HOPING FOR SETTLEMENT. Received Sept. 26, 11.55 p.m. ■ London, Sept. 26. The coal truce was greeted with joy bells, and the miners singing in Dert>yshire and Nottinghamshire, while there were manifestations of relief and hope in other coalfields.—Aus.-N-Z. Cable Ayn,