READY TO HELP AT ANY MOMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17863, 3 June 1926, Page 10

READY TO HELP AT ANY MOMENT.

MR BALDWIN ANNOUNCES GOVT. STRIKE POLICY. By Telegraph—Pre«» Assn. —Copyright. Reuter's Telegrams. LONDON. June 1. A debate on the coal situation was initiated in the House of Commons by Mr Ramsay MacDonald, who emphasised that the situation was fraught with grave national peril. The House must endeavour to make some practical contribution to the solution. He criticised the Government’s handling of the crisis, especially the withdrawal of the subsidy. He declared that money must be found to put the coal industry on its legs. The problem which future Governments would have to face would be that the only complete form of coordination of the coal pits was nationalisation. Mr Lloyd George urged the Government to introduce forthwith legislation for the reconstruction of the coal industry. Baldwin said he was willing to resume negotiations at any moment, but he was unwilling to pledge the taxpayers’ money indefinitely to this one industry, nor would he be forced by the stoppage to take political control of the mines. Whatever settlement was ultimately reached, probably some Government assistance would be necessary. The Government was prepared to do that, but pending a settlement he was unable to say what the form or what the amount of the assistance would be. No Government could compel a settlement, but the moment there was the first glimmer of a temper for negotiations the Government ■would do its best to assauge the differences and asperities, to see fair play, and to undertake any necessary legislation. Primarily, the future depended on the statesmanship of the two parties to the dispute, for no force imposed on reluctant men could bring lasting peace. A Labour amendment to reduce the Ministry of Mines’ vote, on which the debate arose, was defeated by 252 votes to 108. Mr Philip Snowden said he had never listened to a speech with such hopelessness and despair as when he heard the Prime Minister. Mr Snowden expressed the opinion that the only solution of the deadlock was action by the Government itself.