BRITISH MINING TROUBLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18965, 17 March 1924, Page 5

BRITISH MINING TROUBLE

OWNERS’ TERMS REJECTED CONFERENCE ADJOURNS LONDON, March 14. The miners’ conference rejected the owners’ terms and adopted a resolution urging the Government to pass a Miners’ Minimum Wage Bill. The conference decided to refer the owners’ terms to-the districts. It is officially, stated that it will he open to the districts to consider the owners’ terms in the interval before March 26, if desired, but, so far as the conference is concerned, it has no official reference back to districts, as it decided that the terms were inadequate. The adjournment of the conference till March 26 is for the purpose of seeing what can be done meanwhile to secure an improved wage for miners by legislation, and if the minimmum wage Bill, which will come up for discussion on March 21, is not proceeded with, or is defeated, there is little doubt that the delegates will, on the 26th, decide to take a ballot of the coalfields with regard to a national strike after the present agreement expires on April 17. THE MINERS’ ULTIMATUM Beceived March 16, 8.40 p.m. LONDON, March 15. The miners’ rejection of the employers’ offer and the demand in the pasing of a minimum wages bill is regarded by the press generally as placing the onus on the Government of averting a strike. The Daily Express says the bill will will be fought by Liberals and Conservatives strenuously, and will possibly involve the defeat and resignation of the Government. The bill would give the miners higher pay than the employers offer and be based on the increased cost of living, which is now about 79 per cent above the 1914 level. LABOUR JOURNAL’S EXPLANATION. Received March 16, 8.40 p.m. LONDON, March 15. The Daily Herald, in explaining the position regarding the miners, points out that the present wages agreement ends on April 17. The second reading of the Minimum Wages Bill is fixed for March 21. This is a private members’ bill, but in the meantime the Government has decided to take all private members’ time owing to the congestion of public business. The Government has therefore decided to either adopt the bill or introduce its own measure on similar lines. This must have passed all stages before March 17. GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE BILL. Received March 16, 11.50 p.m. (Reuter). LONDON, March 15. It is understood the Government has decided to introduce its own Miners’ Minimum Wage Bill at the end of the financial year.