MINERS WILLING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19648, 6 September 1926, Page 7

MINERS WILLING

TO MEET OWNERS NATIONAL AGREEMENT DESIRED CABINET TAKING ACTION r The result of the miners’ delegate conference in London is a request to the Government to call a conference of the Mining Associa5 tion and the Miners’ Federation, Mr. Churchill being asked to be 1 present. The miners are prepared to negotiate for a new national 1 ’ agreement “with a view to a reduction in labour costs to meet the ■ , immediate necessities of the industry.’’ The owners raised an objec- ' tion to the proposed conference, but the Mines Department replied that 1 “ discussion was essential, and the owners will meet the Cabinet Committee to-day. i t 1 : i By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright. 1 1

MINERS’ EXECUTIVE AUTHORISED TO NEGOTIATE BIG MAJORITY VOTE. LONDON, Sept. 4. From all-day general and sectional i discussions, the Miners’ Federation • Executive emerged late yesterday after- ' noon with an important majority deci- ■ sion, to recommend the delegate confer- ' ence to grant the Executive plenary 1 powers to reopen negotiations for a set--1 tlement. There appeared to be a ma- ' jority of opinion that the trouble should 1 be quickly ended. 1 Later in the evening, the conference, by a majority of 332,000 votes, empowered the Executive to negotiate nationally. ) LETTER TO MINISTER DEFINITE PROPOSAL. JUSTIFIES GOVERNMENT ACTION. LONDON, Sept. 4. After the conference, in which Mr , Ramsay MacDonald took part, Mr A. J. Cook sent a letter to Mr Churchill, k saying:—“The executive and delegates . at the conference, having carefully cont sidered the deadlock, have resolved to ask you to convene and attend a conference of the Mining Association and Miners’ Federation. We arc prepared to enter negotiations for a new nar tional agreement, with a view to a reduction in labour costs to meet the immediate necessities of |he industry.” An official communique says: —“The Government considers the letter constitutes a basis sufficient to justify it requesting the owners to resume negotiations, and is communicating with them.” Mr MacDonald, when informed of the result of the letter, said that he was glad to have been of some service. He hoped that commonsense would prevail and a settlement be achieved. The “Daily Herald” stresses the importance of the phraseology of the miners’ resolution. It says: “No settlement, not really national, will be countenanced. That is the bedrock principle which the owners from the first have been determined to destroy They want a district agreement. They want to break up the Miners’ Federation, which is not going to be broken up.”

PERSUASION NEEDED i OWNERS RAISE OBJECTION. f 1 WILL MEET COMMITTEE. i. IJ Received September 5, 5,50 p.m. ■ c LONDON, Sept. 4. The next question is whether Mr ‘ Churchill can persuade the mine own- 1 ers to meet the men to discuss a national settlement. An official of the Mining Association said last night: “When we receive a communication we shall simply reply that the matter must be referred to the district associations. Their dcci-f sion is rigid, and Government Departments are fully aware of the fact.” The Mining Association, in a letter to the Mines Department, pointed out that the Association was not authorised to enter into discussions on behalf of district associations, therefore it is unable to attend the tripartite conference. The Department replied that discus- p sion of the position raised was essen- j tial, and the Association agreed to con- j for with Cabinet’s Coal Committee on t Monday. i c NO HINDRANCE c c ON PABT OF OWNERS. c n NEWSPAPER VIEWS AGREE. I ; Received September 5, 11.30 p.m. | p LONDON, Sept. 5. U The Sunday newspapers all agree that n now the Miners’ Federation is ready to negotiate, the owners must not bd allowed to hinder a settlement out of desire to “impose a treaty of Versailles.*’ The “Observer’’ says: “If the miners accept extended hours, the owners must sacrifice their objection to a national agreement. The owners’ veto can no more be tolerated than Mr Cook’s futile slogans.” The “Sunday Express” points out that the chief difficulty is that a section of Cabinet and the Conservative Party support the owners’ desire for district settlements, but it hints that the Government might apply pressure on the owners by a threat to repeal the Eight Hours Act. ‘ l r — p