New-York tribune., 1919-02-13
British Miners
Reject Offer
To End Dispute
Serious Industrial Situation
Feared if Union Decides
to Strike for Short Dav
Government Asks Inuuirv
Suggests a Slight Increase
in Wages and Conference
on the Other Demands

LONDON, Feb. 12.-The conference
Of the Miners Federation of Great
Britain at a meeting at Southport to-
day decided against acceptance of the
terms offered by the government for a
settlement Of the demands made by
the federation.
The federation, which has 100000
members, wants a six-hoYr day and a
80 per cent increase in wages.
When the conference met this morn
ing President Smille announced that
the committee having the matter in
charge had decided against acceptance
of the governments terms. The terms
were discussed by the whole confer
ence this afternoon, after which it was
voted to reject them. The following
resolution was adopted:
eve reject the terms offered by
the government as not being in reply
to our demands and we remit to the
eXecutr'e committee the duty of lay
ing before the conference a proposal
as to what should be the next step
to press our demands"
The decision of the conference will
If followed by a strike, which seems
likely with the miners in their present
mood, create an extremely serious in
dustrial situation, as the coal shortage
is already embarrassing, not only to
manufacturers but to domestic con-
sumers.
Seek tn Absorb Tahor
The miners demands were elabo-
rated last year, but were held over
pending the conclusion of hostilities
in consideration of the national emer.
gency
While the first object of the miners
is to absorb surplus labor consequent
to the mobilization, there is declared
20 be behind the movement a determi-
nation on the part of the miners per
manently to nationalze the industry.
The government in its reply to The
demands of the miners said. regard
ing the question of six-hour da!
that, while it sympathized with the de
sire of the workers for an improved
standard of life, it must, in considering
the increases in the cost of production
IN trades the products of which form
staple of other occupations, think alsC
of the consequences upon the genera
trade situation.
The government proposed strong
representative committee, on which the
miners would be represented, to in
qulrc into this question and also into
the cost of production and distribution
of coal, the selling prices and profits
and the question whether coal mining
should be continued on it's presen
basis or under joint control or be ma
tionalized.
Offer Slight Increase
In regard to the demand for in
creased wages, the government said i
was willing to add a shilling a day t.
the present war bonus, which is cqua
to the rise in prices since January
1918, and to refer other demands ir
connection with wages to the repre-
sentative committee. The government
asked the miners to regard the reply
as clear indication of its intention
to meet them in every possible way.
In connection with demands regard
ing demobilized miners the govern
mont said that these must be consid
cred in relation to the general ques
ton Of rehabilitation. The govern
ment took the view that it was mpos
sible to give demobilized miners differ
ent terms from those given other de
modified workmen.