Llais Llafur

I A WEEK OF GRAVE ANXIETY. Success of Cabinet Minis- ters' Efforts. MEN SECURE GENEROUS TERMS. It is not too much to say that the past week has been one of the most .anxious periods ever experienced by the workmen of the South Wales coal- field. When nearly 200,000 miners e-coased work last Thursday, they did so reluctantly and with a full realisation .of the profound seriousness of their action They had never desired a stop- page, and had done all that lay in their power to avert it, but then the outlook was such uliait, the men felt that a stoppage of the pits was the -only means whereby they could im- press the nation with a sense of their determination to have justice at the hand s of the South Wales coalowners. The stoppage actually took place on Thursday, and immediately negotia- tions between the parties were com- menced by the Board of Trade. The first day's proceedings were little more than an interchange of views between the Government representatives and the masters and men. when all appear- ances pointed to an indefinite dead- lock. Then on Friday morning an in- formal meeting of the South Wales Federation Executive took place at' -Cardiff, but the si,tuat,ioill was such tlhaffc nothing could be done, and the members went up to the Board of Trade Offices in London, where the President. and other Government officials awaited them. Here Mr Win- stone and his colleagues gave a de- tJariIledaecount of the disastrous hap- pening in South Wales since theiir last meeting with. Mr Rune-imam. It was explained that the executive council had made strenuous efforts to avert, the strike menace. The men, however, seemed disappointed with the terms which had been offered them in sub- stitution or their demands. Explanations were also given of the moreimpOlantt points at issue. Not- withstanding this, the majority of the execllItive council had advised the men to continue working pending further negotiations with the view of agreeing upon a final form of settlement. It was also explained that the coun- cil had called the Welsh miners' dele- gates together twice to conference alt Cardiff, but with practically, the same result on both occasions. The proceedings, however, for the rest of the evening amounted to litHe more than an interchange of opinions about past negotiations, and little was said on the question; of further negotia- trons. Mr Runoiman remained with the leaders until half-past seven and at that. time withdrew, leaving the Exe- cutive Council to discuss the matters he had raised amongst themselves. Half an hour later they intimated to the President that they did not think it was possible to carry the matter any further that night, and they desired to have an opportunity of further delibe-r-a ting among themselves as to the course to be followed. Mr Runciman informed them just before they left that he would be at their servieAA three o'clock on Satur- day afternoon, if they desired to see him, and, as has already been stated, the council decided to hold a meeting at half-past ten the following; morning. As several correspondents stated, there was no mistaking the policy of the men at this juncture. they wanted the concession by the coal owners of the full programme of. demands made in îhe draft agreement submitted to the .coalowners, and the withdrawal of the aipplieaiti<rn of the Munitions Act to the South Wales coalfield nothing less than the concession of both these de- mands would be sufficient -to persuade. the South Wales miner to. return to his work in the pits. SATURDAY'S PROCEEDINGS On .Satirrdav afternoon the country was somewhat startled by the dramatic announesment that the Executive of the South Wales Miners' Federation were returning home without making a further call on Mr Runciman. The fact "-its made known in the official report as follows:— A meeting of the Executive Council of the South Wale* Miners' Federa- tion. presided over by Mr .J Iiome Win- stone, was lield a+, the Westminster Bailace Hotel to-day. Amongst tlhose pmscHt were Mr A. Onions, treasurer; Mr T. Richards, M.P., secretary; and Mr W. N icholas, solicitor. J The Gounod met to consider the proceedings at the interview with Mr Runciman yesterday. Several hours we.re spent in discussing Mr Runei- ttan's statement as to the present posi- tion in the South Wales coalfield. j It was fonrd impossible to arrive at any decision that vvilil bring about a. settlement. and the Council decided to ■adjourn until Monday at Cardiff. The Press Bureau issued the follow- ing on Saturday evening:—  The Executive Council of the South "Wales miners yesterday informed Mr Runciman that they were bound by the resolution passed by their delegates' conference on July 12, namely— That we do not accept anything less than our original proposals, and that we stop the collieries on Thursday next." At the conclusion of this conference with the Executive Council yesterday Mr Runciman agreed, on their in vitia- tion, to see them again at 3 o'clock this aftermon, but arramgements for this further meeting were cancelled at mid-day to-day at the request of the miners' representatives, who returned to South Wales this afternoon. BOARD OF TRADE. I MR RUNCIMAN AND THE I MEN'S LEADERS. From the report of a correspondent in London it would appear that Fri- -day's nctgoti afions at the Board of Trade Offices were not as amiable as they might have been, but this passed away when it was found that Mr I Runciman realised that the next step clearly rested with himself and the Government. But for that day at any rate no new proposals were submitted, ail,though a statement to the opposite effect was actually issued. A mining corresopndent wired denying the state- ment, adding:— Mr Runciman made no proposals of any kind whatever to the men's re- presentatives, but impressed upon the men the seriousness of the position I which had been tlaken up by them of defying the law. The men's executive asked for the ¡ concession by the owners of the full proposals submitted in March and the withdrawal by the Government of the proclamation -of the South Wales coal- field under the Munitions Act. Mr Runciman did not hold out to the men any hope of their proposals being Imeepted by the Government, but, on the contrary, pointed out that the tribunal was constituted and would be- come immediately operative. DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT I CABINET MINISTERS AT CARDIFF. I There were dramatic developments in the crisis on Monday at noon. Mr Lloyd George, accompanied by Mr Runciman, Mr Henderson, Sir Harry Verney, Sir Hubert Llewellyn Smith, and Mr Isaac Mitchell, of the Board of Trade, and Mr J. T. Davies j imet the Executive Committee of the South Wales Miners' Federation and addressed them. Mr Lloyd George pointed out the extreme gravity of the situation and the damage effected by the strike on the Con-tinent of Europe. Mr Lloyd George showed how im- possiible it was to wage a successful war abroad with a strike at home, and how no Government responsible for a colos- sal war of this mature could possibly allow the continuance of a conflict be- tween capital and labour to imperii the chances of victory. Then Mr Lloyd George and his colleagues journeyed to Cardiff, where the Ministers were met at the railway station by Mr J. Winotrone, aeting president of the South Wales Miners' Federation; Mr Alfred Onions, treasurer of the South Wales Miners' Federation; and Mr. Thomas Richards, M.P., secretary. The Cabinet Ministers, w!ho were accompanied by Sir Llewellyn Smith, K.C.B. (Permanent Secretary of the Board of Trade), and Mr Isaac Smith (Industrial Commissioner), were greet- j ed at the Park Hotel by a large and enthusda.stic crowd, many of whom ex- pressed the sincere hope that they would be able to remove the deadlock, j The Executive Council of tihe South Wales Miners' Federation met them in the hotel, and the conference, which took place in Room 102, commenced at 9.45 p.m., and without any loss of time the points of difference was dis- I cussed. e There Were some points in the Government's original proposa ls upon which tihere was agreement Mir Runeimen suggested that those paints should be accepted as part of I the mew agreement, and that they should discuss further some of those points upon which there was a diffe:r ?,enc,e of opina?n and which were ob? jectre to by the miners. Mr Runciman said that as far as he could recollect, they were desirous of securing a minimum, and also that the I period should be fixed for the dura- tion of the new agreement. They might be aBle, in the course of the evening, to arrive at meoompromise on some of the points, and he would suggest that in order to remove (he deadlock, they might agree to refer theee to arbitration. In particular, thqce points referred to a minimum and 10 per cent. above the standariil, and also upon the ques- tion of tho 5 per cent, claimed in tolie Anthracite districts, which, lie under- stood, was one of the great objections to the acceptance of the Government's proposals. There was no settlement then, buft 4lie outlook was distinctly hopeful. I I HOPE I SHALL SETTLE IT. I A Central News correspondent wrote I on Monday evenfing as fellows:— Cardiff has now (become the cemftre of I the latest and most hopeful negotia- j tions for a settlement of the dispute. Cabinet Ministers, South Wales coal- owners, and the miners' leaders have now all miade Cardiff their head- quarters for a, period which, it is be- lieved, will suffice to bring about a resumption of woTk very shortly, either aeompallied by, or speedily to be fol- lowed by, some satisfactory compromise on the points in dispute. Unalloyed satisfaction was expressed in Cardiff when it became known that the, Minis- ter of Munitions, the President of the Board of Trade, and the President of the Board of Education were on route for Cardiff, there to discuss with the Executi ve -of the South AY ales Miners' Federation the situation as it now pre- sen ts itself. The Minister of Munitions, accom- panied by Sir H. Llewellyn Smith, aind attended by his secretary (Mr Davies) left the Munitions Ministry in White- hall-gardens at a quarter to six for Paddington. Mr Isaac Mitchedi. of the I Industrial Commissioners' Department, and left in a taxi-cab for the railway station a few moments before Mr Lloyd George aud his companions, and at Paddingtou the party from Whitehall were joined by Mr Runciman and Mr Arthur Henderson. J MESSAGE FROM PREMIER. It was noficed that just prior to his depature from the Munitions Ministry Mr Lloyd George received through the secretary a message sent from the Prime Minister's residence, and it was also significant that during the after- noon the chairman and the secretary I of the South Wales Coalowners' As- sociation visited the Munitions De- partment. It. is understood, however, that they did not have a persomia2 in- terview with the Minister. Later 1lt was learned that the owners proposed also to return to Cardiff by a later train than that which the Ministerial Paiity had chosen. Before he joined the train at Paddington, Mir Lloyd George told a Central News representative that. the situation was very difficult, and per- haps the less said about it the better. Asked Doint blank whether he hoped to effect a compromise, Mr Lloyd George replied, "I hope I shall settle it. That's I all I ca,re to say." PEACE AT LAST. I REVISED TERMS ACCEPT-I ABLE TO OWNERS. A settlement of the strike was effect- ed on Tuesday, when terms were agreed upon between the representa- tives of the Government and the Executive Council of the South Wales Miners' Federation. The terms of the arrangement were to be laid before a coalfield conference on Wednesday, and a report of that gaitliering appears else- where. They are somewhat complica- ted, and as a contemporary pointed out, in order to be thoroughly under- stood, they must, be read; in conjunc- tion with the terms offered by Mr Runciman three weeks ago, and his interpretation thereon. Broadly speaking, the new terms of settlement concede to the workmen their most important demands. They have secured:- 1.—A new standard 50 per cent. above the old. 2.-Five shillings a day for surface- men. 3.—A minimum of 10 per cent. above the new standard rate, but no equiva- lent selling price. 4.-Six turns for five for afternoon and nighi shifts. 5.— Equal payment for night and day hauliers. 6.—A clause dealing with non-Union- ists. 7.—A period over which the new agreement is to run-for six months flifter the war, but not for three years I from the date of signing. TUESDAY S NEGOTIATIONS. The following statement was given to the Press on Tuesday night by Mr J. T. Davies, Mr Lloyd George's private secretary: "The Government representatives had a further conference this (Tues- I day) morning with the Executive Council of the South Wales Miners' I Fedei-auon at the Park Hotel, Cardiff, amd continued the discussion of the matters raised at last night's meeting. "At noon Mr Lloyd George and his colleagues conferred with Jie &ut:h Wales Misers' Federatiom at the Park Hotel, Cardiff, and continued the dis- I cussion of the matters raised at last night's irfeetintg. "ht noon Mr Llovtl George and his colleagues confer^d with the South Wales and Monmouthshire Coalowners' Association, and submitted to then? the various proposals made by the men. "After further and proloitgod negotiations terms for the settlement off the dispute were submitted to the miners' council, and these terms ishey unanimously decided to recommend ir61 the conference for acceptance. I TEXT OF NEW CLAUSES. I I POINTS WHICH THE MEN HAVE GAINED. I. "INTERPRETATIONS" BROADENED. Mr Davies also issued the following statement to the Press which showed that the following were the actual terms of settlement arrived at:- On receiving an assurance that the South Wales Miners' Federation accept a settlement 811 the following lines of the present dispute on behalf of those whom they represent, and that. the men will iryimeidiately return to work OR those terms, his Majesty's Government will undertake to secure the accept- ance of these terms by the employers' representatives. 1. The terms of setitlement made by the Government on the 1st July and the interpretation appended thereto (herein termed the "Runviman terms") shall be adopted subject the follow- ing explanat,ionsand moc fications. 2. The "Interpretations" shall be I modified to the fdllowinc -xtept:— A. The sentence re.fff. ing to the "able-bodied" workmar shall be omitted. B. An accident in connection with a -workman's employment shall not. be a bar to his benefit. by the bonus turn. C. The new standard, plus 10 per cent., shall operate as a minimum. The last sentence of C shall read as follows:—None of the equivalents mentioned in the late agreement of selling prices opposite percentages are to be inserted in the new agreement; but nothing shall prevent the indepen- dent Chairman in determining future alterations of wages from considering what is a fair equivalent price for the new minimum." D. This clause shall be deleted. Standard rates for Underground day- wage men which at present are less than 3s.4d. per day shall be advanced to 3s.4d. per day, pflus 50 per cent. The new standard rates for other underground day-wage men shall be either their existing rates or the rates I applicable to them under the Minimum Wage Act, whichever tare the higher, plus 50 per cent. Provided that. where such last mentioned new stlandiaromtes are determined by reference to a rate fixed under the Minimum Wage Act they shall be subject to the ruiles ap- plicable to such rates pending the de- cision of an arbitrator appointed by the Board of Trade on the question what special rates, if any, shall apply in cases in which these rules are not' observed. E. This paragraph shall be deleted and replaced by the following:— The agreement shall apply to all workmen now employed or who might hereafter be employed a,t the collieries of the owners or who may be members of the South Wales Miners' Federa- tion. F. All the words after "arise" shall be omitted and the following words substituted. "Any such matter upon which the parties fail to come to am; agreement shall be referred to the President. of the oBard of Trade, whose decision shall be final." G. This paragraph shalll be deleted and replaced by the following:— This s agreement shall continue in force until the expirlation of six months after the termination of the war and thereafter until the lapse of three months after notice has been given by one of the parties to terminate it. H. The words from "chairman" to the end of the clause shall be omitted, and tlhe words "President of the Board of Trade, whose decision shall be final." 3. The question of the rate far the Anthracite collieries as compared with those for other collieries shall be the I; subject C& inquiry. 4 The w hole of these terms, i- eluding A" of the interpretations, Shall operate as from the date of the resumption of work. 5. It is mutually agreed betweenf the parties that no one shall be penalised for the part taken by him in the pre- sent dispute, and that every effort shall be made by both parties and by those whom they represent to main- tain and toinerease the output of coal to meet the national needs during the present emergency. Some Points in the Terms. I — There were meetings of the Govern- ment representatives and both owners and men during the early part of the day on Tuesday, and the proceedings with the miners' Headers is set out. No official re- port of the proceedings with the owners was jssued, but we understand that the coalowners expressed themselves very much against a three years' agreement, which the men originally demanded, and whilst they mised objections also to the new standard, they seemed determined I that there should be no minimum above the new standard. POINTS OF DIFFICULTY. I These two points gave Considerable difficulty until it was explained to the owners that if an agreement for the period of the war was entered upon there ould not be much fea;r of tke minimum being reached. When it was understood that the Government emissaries would endeavour to induce the work-men to accept an agreement to cover the period of the war and a short period after in order to tide over the dislocation of trade which might follow, the coalowners did I •> not persist in their objections to the new standard. I SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS. I After the luncheon interval Mr. Lloyd I Georg- and his colleagues were in a better position to place before the work- men's representatives suggestions which they regarded as likely to lead to an amicable settlement of the matters in dis- pute. Mr. Lloyd George was able to point out clearly that no new terms could be offered other than those previously presented by Mr. Runciman, but as the result of the conversations with the own- ers the interpretations of the proposals were considerably broadened, and the workmen's r,epresontatives would be able to view them from a totally different j standpoint. This was particularly noticeable in the interpretation given to the "able-bodied workmen" clause. Mr. Runciman had laid it down that the 5s. per day paid to able-bodied workmen was to be paid to "able-bodied workmen as understood at the various collieries." THE NEW STANDARD. Then there was a question as to the standard of 50 per cent. above the 1879 standard. The workmen's representatives feared that under the interpretation given by Mr. Runciman on this point, if any minimum was agreed upon, wages might go below the standard and that formed their particular objection to the Government terms as they stood on July 1st. THE MINIMUM. In the course of the discussion it trans- pired that there was no intention that the wages of the men should go below the standard, and that the proposed new standard of 1915 should be regarded as the minimum rate, with the result that wages could not possibly go below this limit. In spite of this assurance the workmen's representatives insisted upon a minimum of 10 per cent. above the pro- posed new standard of 1915, pointing out that after the declaration of peace they would be deprived of the 17-1 per cent. war bonus, and if there was a slump in trade they were open to lose also further percentages. > It was pointed out that under present conditions the men received 77 per cent. above the standard of 1879 (this included the maximum of 60 per cent. above the Conciliation Board agreement of 1910, plus 17t, per cent. war bonus). They ar- gued further that they stood to lose the equivalent of 274 per cent. unless they ob- tained their minimum of 10 per cent. on the standard. DURATION OF AGREEMENT. Another question which the workmen urged should be settled was the duration of the agreement, and in order to protect themselves they thought that a three years' agreement was not unreasonable. The Minister of Munitions, as well as Mr. Runciman, pointed out how impos- sible it was to make any provision which might be considered suitable for a long period after the war, and they argued that it would be far better for all con- cerned if the agreement could be signed to cover the period of the war%and, say, six months after the war, until trade had settled down. They would then be in a better position to gauge the prospects and would be able to arrive at an agree- ment containing more equitable provisions than an agreement come to in war time. REASONABLE TERMS WON. STATEMENT BY MR. WINSTONE. Mr. J.1mes Winstone, president of the South Wales Miners' Federation, upon being interviewed by a press representa- tive, said he thought they had obtained reasonable terms. They had had a mcst anxious time, and every member of the Executive Council had done his best to bring about a settlement. They had hoped to have surmounted their difficulties with- out a stoppage of work, but they had been unable to avoid the inevitable. He was bound to express his sense of satis- faction at the manner the members of the Government had handled the delicate negotiations. It had assisted them greatly in arriving at an agreement. As it wa&, the Executive Committee had agreed to the terms submitted, and were unani- mous in recommending the men to ac- cept them. Mr Noah Ablett :—"I think we should be foolish to hold out any longer. We have got nearly all we are entitled to, and we are prepared to sacrifice the rest for the sake of the country. For this reason We are going to recommend the men to go back to work." Asked if the Council were unanimous in their approval of the settlement, Air. Ablett replied, "Absolutely."