150,000 MINERS STRIKE IN WELSH COLLIERIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19267, 2 January 1931, Page 1

150,000 MINERS STRIKE IN WELSH COLLIERIES.

Men Reject Owners 9 Terms, But Hold-Up Should Be Short. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received January 2, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, January 1. 'The Miners’ Federation yesterday instructed the South Wales miners not to work to-day, thus bringing the dispute on the coalfields to a head. The Government made an unsuccessful effort yesterday to bring about a resumption of negotiations and the stoppage of work began to-day. It is hoped, however, that the stoppage will be of short duration. A meeting of the Conciliation Board has been called for Saturcjfiy. Probably 150,000 men will be involved.

Xo open concession has been made by the owners, who adhere to their main point that a readjustment of hours must involve a reduction of wages. The decision of the Miners’ Executive to agree to an examination of the possibilities by the Conciliation Board as to the extension to July of the present terms of employment suggests readiness on their part to reconsider their earlier opposrtion to the spread-over of hours arrangement, adversely affecting wages. The miners’ proposal is that the weekly spread-over be of 45 hours (five days of 71 hours and Saturday of 62 hours). The owners insist on a fort-

nightly spread of 87 hours, consisting of ten days of eight hours and one Saturday of seven hours and the other Saturday a holiday. The miners’ representatives argue that the loss of a day’s pay will mean a reduction in wages averaging five shillings weekly, to which the employers reply that there is not money enough to pay the wages which prevailed under the eight hours arrangement. Only 30 per cent of the South Wales miners are members of the federation, so it is not certain that a stoppage would be extensive or prolonged.