MINERS’ STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1921, Page 5

MINERS’ STRIKE.

OWNERS MEET THE MENNEW OFFER BY OWNERS. IMPROVED OUTLOOK. By Telegraph.—Press Assn—Copyright. London, June 6. At the conference between the miners and owners Mr. Evan Williams, on behalf of the owners, said the owners as well as the miners were in a precarious position. Therefore he asked the miners to confer with the owners, who previously did not realise the extent of their proposed reduction of wages. They now realised that a subsistence wage for the lowest paid workers must be guaranteed; also that they must fix a standard living wage below which there must be no reduction. The owners now suggest a flat rate reduction of three shillings per shift for six months. This will stabilise wage conditions and enable the poorer districts to reap .the benefit of the Government’s subsidy. The owners are optimistic regarding the future of the coal industry, despite the depression. Mr. Smith replied in an unreported speech, which is described as savage in the extreme, to which the owners listened good temperedly. DESIRE TO SETTLE. The coal owners and miners had a full and frank discussion. There was an undoubted desire to reach a settlement during the fortnight the Government’s offer of ten millions is available. Though Mr. Smith’s speech was far from conciliatory and nearly wrecked the good intentions with which the meeting opened, the conference continued to discuss the possibility of a new* standard wage. The owners were prepared to fix their profits on the workman’s 1914 wages, but the miners ask for the 1920 standard plus the existing percentage. The difference expressed in wages per shift is considerable. The conference will to-morrow consider how the standard wage can be modified. Once the miners and owners have agreed regarding the standard wage a settlement will be within sight. BEATEN ON THE POOL. Owing to lack of funds the Mtners’ Executive is asking district associations to postpone the annual conference arranged at Llandudno in July, also funds will not permit the miners to send a full delegation to the Labor Party’s annual conference at Brighton. Mr. Thomas Spencer, trustee x>f the Derbyshire Miners’ Association, states that the miners’ leaders must recognise' that they are beaten on the pool. Neither the nation nor the Government will have the pool at any price. The sooner that is got into their minds the better. The leaders have been chasing a ■will-o’-the-wisp, while thousands of miners’ families have been starving.