BIG COAL STRIKE LIKELY IN BRITAIN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19240, 29 November 1930, Page 11

BIG COAL STRIKE LIKELY IN BRITAIN.

SITUATION VERY GRAVE DECLARES MINERS’ CHIEF. (United Press Assn. — By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received November 29, 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 28. The Miners’ Delegate Conference rejected applications from four districts for permission to work the spread-over hours and recommended that in the event of a stoppage in any district, other districts should consider the giving of notice of a national cessation of work. Mr A. J. Cook subsequently described the situation as very grave. North Wales, South Wales, Cumberland and Scotland and possibly 'some Midland districts would be involved in stoppages on Monday unless something happened in the meantime. The miners regarded the spread-over as a continuance of the eight-hour day. The South Wales owners to-night decided to post notices in the coalfields offering a continuance of the existing conditions throughout December, but the hours not to exceed 90 a fortnight. A joint Conciliation Board meanwhile is attempting to settle conditions for a permanent spread-over. In the event of failure the matter will be referred to independent arbitration. Following the miners’ decision, Messrs Graham and Shinwell met representatives of the miners and owners, after w’hich the Government telegraphed to the districts affected by the decision, urging that temporary arrangements be made to -work pending a farther meeting of the Miners’ Conference on December 6.