BRITISH COAL CRISIS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16840, 11 September 1920, Page 3

BRITISH COAL CRISIS.

I i CONFEREN CEDISA PPOINTIN G. i By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright, i LONDON, Sopt. 9., The conference between tho miners’ executive and tho Minister of Labour (Sir Robert Home), froih which so , much' was hoped, failed. Mr. E. Smillie (piesident of the Miners’ Federation) informed Sir Robert Horne that the executive was of opinion that there were no now proposals in his statement which, in their judgment, would load to J satisfactory settlement of the miners’ claims, i The conference then terminated. — . Reuter. LONDON, Sept. 10. Mr. 6. N. Barnes (a member of the i Cabinet without portfolio), speaking at Glasgow, said the minors’ demands that coal prices be dropped 14s 2d was an i illegitimate demand, which was ou :• side the scope of any sectional body in the country'. It would not mean a present to tho consumei's of coal, as it would have to be paid for by taxation. The Government might reasonably say, “Let things go on for two or . three years, during which tinro nationalisation and wmges might be fully and Ireely considei’ed.” —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COMPARISON WITH AMERICA. LONDON, Sept. 9. The Coal Association circulates a remarkable comparison of tho miners’ output and pay in Britain and in America. The pithead price in America is 12s lOd, and in England 31s 3d; the output per shift is 3.12 tons in England and 7.7 tons. in America, and the average weekly wage fin America is 160 s and in England 100s.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. . APPEAL TO COUNTRY POSSIBLE. LONDON, Sept. 10. Tire Daily News states that political circles are discussing a general election and the. coal issue.Mr. Lloyd George does not desire an appeal to the country until after next session, but if it is essential ho may ask tlxe country to register its verdict on the policy of “direct action7’ whitffi would enable the Cabinet to deal drastically with such threats in future.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.