BRITISH COAL MINES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16504, 4 August 1919, Page 3

BRITISH COAL MINES.

DIFFICULTIES IN YORKSHIRE. NOT YET SETTLED. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. LONDON, July 31. At the Coal Conference, Mr. Herbert Smith declined to recognise the right of the Miners’ Federation to negotiate with the Government on behalf of the Yorkshire men. He invited the mine owners to negotiate independently of the Government formula. The owners replied that this was impossible, as they were bound by the Coal Controller's derision. -Mr. Smith’s alternative proposal was equivalent to tho elimination of piecework, as the wages wore the same whatever the output. Tho deadlock in connection with the Yorkshire dispute lias dismayed the public, who were led to believe that the. parties had only come together to arrive at a. speedy settlement on tho lines of the Government agreement. The -Miners’ Federation lias now found that when the Government’s formula is applied to Yorkshire it represents an advance of 11.8 per cent., whereas the Yorkshire miners are determined to seeuretjio maximum percentage of 11.2. The miners’ alternative is that each miner should he recouped for any loss and an advance of wages of from live to 25 per cent. Apart from Yorkshire, a serious situation has arisen at all the mines owing to the surfacemen demanding an increase under threat of an immediate .strike. Meanwhile tho woollen manufacturers arc exhausting their last reserves of coal. Fifty thousand employees are already out of work in Yorkshire, apart from tho miners. It is estimated that the difference between 11.8 and 14.2 per cent means 100 s annually per man, or a million pounds a year for the Yorkshire coalfields. 'There are 30,000 unemployed at Bradford. Some of the firms arc keeping tl oir works going with coal costing 4.15, which before the war cost 10s, including cartage. The War Cabinet considered the miners’ deadlock. Mr. Horne later received a miners deputation. Developments revive tho hope of a settlement. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, DISCUSSION WITH YORKSHIREMEX. MAKING SOME PROGRESS. (Received August 4. 8.5 a.m.) LONDON, August 1. Sir Robert Horne, Minister of Labour discussed the situation with a deputation of Yorkshire minors and made satisfactory progress a settlement. Tho Miners’ Association agreed to confer with the owners.