COAL CRISIS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 15 July 1925, Page 5

COAL CRISIS.

MINERS 3 ATTITUDE. TOWARDS PROPOSED ENQUIRY. aess Association—Electric Telegraph—Copyrigk' LONDON, Monday. The coal miners’ attitude towards the proposed inquiry has not yet been determined. The executive has been in session at Scarborough all day, and has telegraphed to the Ministry for further particulars, especially on the point of whether the owners’ termination of the agreement is withdrawn. The executive will announce its decision to-morrow.

Meanwhile the South Wales owners have announced the termination of the agreement, and have intimated that the pits will be open on August 1, on terms to be announced later, adding: “The decision in no respect constitutes a lock-out. ’ ’•

The Exchange Telegraph Agency, summarising the views of miners, says: “South Wales is hostile to the inquiry. The Midlands, including Nottinghamshire, Derby and Leicestershire, favour the avoidance of a. strike. Lancashire is uncertain, and Yorkshire will probably follow Herbert Smith. ’ ’ —Aus and N.Z. Cable Assn. RECOMMENDATION WITHHELD. LONDON, Monday. The miners’ executive decided to withhold .a recommendation to the delegate conference to accept the coal mining inquiry until it received a reply from Mr. Bridgeman assuring it that the owners will suspend or withdraw their proposals and the notice to terminate the present agreement, if the miners co-operate in the" inquiry. Reuter. RUSSIAN COMPETITION. </ ' . LONDON, Monday. A sidelight oil the coal depression was shown by Mr. A. M. Samuel (Un-der-Secretary for Overseas Trade), in replying to a question in the House of Commons. He said hg. was,aware that Russia was pushing the coal trade in Italy and ether Medit.erraneanqnarkets at what he believed were unreniunerative prices.— Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. OWNERS’ INVITATION. (Received Wednesday, 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, Tuesday. The Miners’ Executive has telegraphed to Mr Evan Williams, chairman of the Coal Owners’ Association, asking if his invitation to meet on an open situation meant that the owners proposals would be withdrawn and negotiations could be resumed where they were broken off. It is stated that the miner? prefer negotiations to a court of enquiry. The Mining Association has -‘telegraphed to the Miners’ Federation Conference at Scarborough, offering to meet representatives to discuss proposals for a new agreement, but declaring that the owners' cannot withdraw the'notiees of the termination of the agreement. - Reuter.