BLACK OUTLOOK IN BRITAIN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 1 May 1926, Page 9

BLACK OUTLOOK IN BRITAIN

Grave Crisis in Mining lo.du.stry

GENERAL HOLD-UP THREATENED.

MR BALDWIN’S EFFORTS TO AVERT DISASTER.

The cca! subsidy expired last evening, and in terms of the Coal Commission’s report the mining industry has to face the future without heavy State aid.

Mr Baldwin signified his willingness to accept the Goal Commission’s report, provided that the other parties do.

While the Prime Minister is calmly confident that there will be no stoppage, it is significant that the engineering trade' threatens to strike if their demands are not conceded at once, and in some quarters their action is interpreted as a tactical move to help force a surrendsr tc the miners’ demands.

Crisis In Coal Industry. COMPLETE STOPPAGE THREATENED. By Cable —Press Association —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received April 30, 8 p.m.) LONDON, April 30. The outlook this morning is Hie blackest. The country i.s faced with a complete stoppage of the coal fields, with over a million workers idle. Bsfore the Dawn. As a matter of fact, the night shift finished this morning, and 10-day s day shift will be the last, unless the men receive instructions to the contrary from the Miners’ Federation. As usual, the negotiations have been driven to the. eleventh hour, and all depends upon to-day's happenings. Two Alternatives. lit is understood that yesterday s discussions ranged round tho alternatives: (1) a nal'onal minimum percentage above 1914 wages, based on the existing seven hours day, which admittedly would involve considerable reduction in wages; (2) a higlier niiiiiiiiuiii, based on an eight hours day, which would make the wages in most districts equal to the present scale. The existing minimum l ereentage i.s 33 1-3, above 1914 rates. The miners have refused absolutely so far, to consider lengthening the seven hours day, which was secured by. Act of Parliament, alter a. long struggle. No Hope of Settlement. A member of the Trade Union Committee told tho “Daily Telegraph” that there is no hope whatever of a settlement. Moreover, ho did not believe there would , even he a suspension of the notices ; in fact, 40,0UU men had already finished their duties and had brought their 'ools fo the pithead. The Prime Minister had told them that apart. from the eight hour day, there was no' wage lie could submit, with any hope of acceptance. The Heart of the Problem. The “Daily Herald” (Labour) editorially remarks “Mr Baldwin has cot reached the heart of the matter. Me has allowed the owners to concentrate on wages and hours, ami allowed ihe essential point of the re-organisation of the industry to fall into the hackground. The miners must not ho made to pay for the owners’ mismnnngomeiil.

DISCUSSION AFTER MIDNIGHT.

AIR BALDWIN’S QUIET CONFIDENCE. By Cable —Press Association —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. (Received April 30, 9.55 p.m.) LONDON, April 29. The coal discussions were continued after midnight, when the Prime Minister after two and a hall’ hours’ discussion with the owners’ representatives, met committees of miners and the Trade Union Congress, and after a brief sitting, the latter conference adjourned till later in the morning'. , It is stated that the owners will submit specific proposals to the Prime Minister, after which he will re-coni'er with the Joint Committee of the Trade Union Congress and the Miners’ Executive. It is understood tho Miners’ Executive has definitely rejected the eight-hour day proposal, and . that the question the Prime Minister, discussed with the owners, as an immediate issue, was the suspension of the employers’ notices.

It is reported that the Prime Minister indicated that he was prepared to consider an extension of State financial assistance for a lew days, in order to give further time for negotiations, provided the owners suspended tlieir notices. It is understood that Mr Baldwin is convinced there will be no stoppage. attitude of miners. REGRET NEGOTIATIONS .IN PROGRESS. B.r Cable—Press Associntirm —'Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Associc‘.n ■ LONDON, April 29. The coal outlook in admittedly dark, but.there is some hope that this is the darkest hour before the dawn. All negotiations are secret, hut much depends on the latest attitude ot the Owners’ Executive. Representatives - - (> f 20.> Unions affiliated to..the Trade Union Congress attended the eonferoiioo, at which Mr Ramsay MacDonald-, and Air Arthur Henderson were also-present. A sensational -occurrence was the collapse- of Mr Harry Gosling, president of ihe transporters.--It had been rumoured that a general strike police might he discussed, but there way 'no mention thereof.