§ 43. Mr. GEORGE HALLasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the terms now offered by the coal owners to the miners will mean a large reduction in the already low wages at present paid; and will he state what action the Government propose to take to secure to the coal miner a wage that will place him in the same position as he enjoyed in 1914?
§ 46. Mr. TINKERasked the Prime Minister if he is aware that the coal-owners have given notice to terminate the present agreement, and have submitted fresh terms to the Miners' Federation; that these terms have been rejected by the miners; and will he indicate what steps the Government intend to take, seeing that the notice expires at the end of July?
§ 47. Mr. ALLEN PARKINSONasked the Prime Minister if he has seen the terms of the coalowners' communication to the secretary of the Miners' Federation, giving notice to terminate the present wages agreement; and, in view of the fact that the present wages paid are below the accepted standard of the cost of living, what steps does he propose to take to avoid a general stoppage in this industry, in view of the demand made for further reductions in wages?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am aware of the situation in the coal-mining industry, and shall continue to keep in close touch with its developments; but, as I have already stated to the House, my view is that every opportunity should be given to those engaged in the industry to settle these things for themselves, and every effort should be made by them to do so. It seems to me clear that the possibilities of negotiation have not yet been exhausted, and I should like to take this opportunity of appealing to both sides to explore them further with a sincere desire to find a way out of the difficulty.
§ Mr. HALLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a complete deadlock at the present time; and do the Government propose to allow this state of things to continue until the end of the month before anything is done?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot admit that there is a complete deadlock at this moment. I am quite aware that the situation is serious, but I do not think the time has yet come to say that there is a complete deadlock.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the terms suggested by the coalowners mean at least a 25 per cent. reduction for the lowest paid worker, and, in the circumstances, will he appeal to the owners to be more reasonable in their demands than they have been up to the present?