THE COAL CRISIS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 13622, 1 March 1912, Page 5

THE COAL CRISIS.

THE MINIMUM WAGE. !*»■ A—odrtion.—T»kgr»ph.—Copyright. LONDON. February 29. It i* officially announced that the Government informed tlm coalowners (1) that it is satisfied, after careful consideration. that there are cases where miners cannot earn a reasonable living wage, from causes over winch they tee no control: (2) that it is satisfied the.i power to secure such a wage should be secured bv arrangements suitable to li.e special circumstances of each district, adequate safeguards being provided io protect employers against abuse ; c'jf fluGovernment is prepared to confer vn:n the parlies concerning the best method of giving practical effect to this co ■< lusion by means of distiiet conferen —s between the parti's, whereat the Government shall be represented; (4i in the event of any such conferen "s inimg to arrive at a c< mpicte settlement within a reasonable time -he .<■,>.< teiitr lives and the Government "hall d'-‘-cude jointly on the out.'.lauding pen.* with a view to giving effect to t. „• agreement in priniciple, Tlic official communication adds that the employers in the English Federated areas in Durham and Cumberland have accented, and those in Northumberland. Scotland. South W ales. Forest of Dean, Somerset, and Bristol, have refused the Government proposition. Trio millets concurred in the urst two propositions and disagreed with numbers thn-e and tour. They »fie not prepared to regard the minimum wage scale adopted on February 2nd as opening negotiations. Further conferences will be held to-day. 115,000 MINERS IDLE. London. FebrunM to ■ A butidn 1 and tills < u t help and mine* | are id!.-, uo iiuiiiig .'12.1.M' ;u No.-tiiigham-iiire The export el id oil the Tu.e, v inch is 2fl nulheii tons annually, is it a standstill. The Scutch our,.rs have explained to, the Government that tln-x a ill abide bx the agre ment mad- <m doth Jolv. UXi'd, whereto the Board ot Trade cere parties. though tuev ar 'vdltiu, to be represented on a i<>int committee of the masters and men to m/pi'l. r th ■ pue--tie.n of remuneration lor abnormal places or m the event ot injustice in exceptional oases, "idle re is general sat ; si act ion oyer tie Government S4 cumv. til- adhesion Ol the employers and Ml p* r cent of tnc j miners to the prim mho: the miTiinmuni I wage, l«u mg tile door otwi tor tur- o-r ncgotirv.inn with the miuorixx. luc grav< ft a;lire of the situation is the miners' insist.-m •• upon ft fiehnite sc ale of pa. in place o, a system ot comerenct's suggested by the Goa- Itiuieut. The Times sa.s there i- no doubt a solution of tlm the minimum. with safeguards. The Daily Mailv declares that the miners having scored a moral victory, they ought to h n willing to submit the case to negotiation in the various districts

SOME STATISTICS. Received March 1, 8.3 am. LONDON. Fcbmarv 2? The number of men employed in c. 1 mining in the United Kingdom in R‘iwas 1.067.213, ..hereof 683,512 worked underground. The coal output for the same year was 271,676,1)24 tons. SOUTH WALES EMCINEMEN INTEND TO STRIKE. Received March I, 10.5 a m. LONDON, February 29. The South Wales enginemcni annrupo-e their intention of striking immediately .or a minimum wage. Mr D. Thomas, interviewed, said the South Wales owners would rather submit to ccimnulsion than accent the Government’s proposals voluntarily. The in°n were tearing up the agreement. The Government’s proposals do not contain provisions for giving owners any guarantee that new agreements will be observed. ADVICE TO THE MEN. Received March 1. 10.5 a m. LONDON, February 29. The Morning Leader says the men’s claim that the minimum wage shall be fixed bv the Miners’ Fed-ration cannot be maintained. The public has a right to expert from them moderation and an appreciation of the gravity of the issue. ACCEPTORS AND NON-ACCEPTORS. Received March 1, 6.5 a m. LONDON. Februarv 20, The owners accepting represent fit) per cent, of the output employing 370.0c-.i BMD. The non-acceptors employ 293,000. THE MINERS* DEMANDS. STRIKERS BEHAVING WELL. Received Mareli 1. 11 5 a n:. LONDON. Folc nar.t 2". The Miners’ C'onli rer.o, to- da l - n-eh-o.l to maintain tin- demand-, iiioliidiiig a schedule of rates for oaoh metro t and for an individual minimum wage. The strikers aro observing a holiday spu:t, without anv display of ill feeling. RECOMMENDATION BY WESTMINSTER GAZETTE. Received March 1, 11.0 a.m. LONDON. February 29. The W fstmip.st.-r Gazette recommends, aft. r a t. mjwra. v s. t: h-ip.-nt, the apIxiard to con-i-I -r the wr.e' • condition of tlie coal indu-tri. and tin- veioupinent *>f owner-, nut n.-ecssariiy tsom profits, but !>ossib'i\ from the increased < ifiriiT.cy i-i labour. bett- r .-quipm- nt ot mines. or an lurreas. 01 price to tie pnidic. It also states that permanent peace would be impossible uule-s both sides approach the question as a matter affecting their joint interests

MINERS JUBILANT. Received March 1, 1! an. LONDON. F l.nniv There are eight tin usand miners idle. Tho miners’ leaders ar jubilant at the Government’s rerognuion of the principle of a minimum wage. GERMAN INTENTIONS. Received March 1, IF." a m. BKR UN, February I*F The Cologne Gar :tc ;tat-w xhat the Rhenish and \\ e-i.) allaa mine-owners will not send coal to but hone to capture certain German markets where English coal preponderates.