TIGHTENING ITS GRIP

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 59, 8 March 1912, Page 5

TIGHTENING ITS GRIP

BRITISH MINERS' STRIKE. COSTS £4OOOOO A WEEK. MORE HANDS THROWN IDLE nim b-ujmung dxy. FEEDING THE HTTVGBT CHJXPBEH. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyriaht, LONDON. March 7. The Ministerial Press censures the miners for their refusal to consider any terms save those in the schedule, as a result of which the sitution is unchanged. There are no signs of yielding, and the strike is slowly tightening its grip upon every industry. The "Chronicle'' states that the terms of the schedules do not admit of reasoned defence. The 'Tall Mall Gazette" demands that Australia's methods of compulsory arbitration be adopted, and the cutting off oi strike funds.

To-day's news shows that the miners axe feeling the pressure of other unions, whose funds are being depleted. Electricians, clerks, and sub-manager* are working the big Glamorgan colliery to secure ventilation and drainage. The loss, including miners' wages, in South Wales is £400,000 a week. FREE MT.AT.« WANTED. The Trade and Labour Council is urging the Cardiff Citv Council to provide free meals for the men. The feeding of school children is being arranged at Mountain Ash. The trades union leaders are anxious in regard to the depletion of fun* through idling in various industries. The Amalgamated Railway Servants' Society is faced with an expenditure cl £20,000 a week for unemployed pay. The executive of the Society, in reply to certain branches, declares that in view of the favourable position of th« miners, there is no reason for combined action. The committee adds that it is unable to sanction the refusal to work troop trains. It also forbade the Bennondsey branch, which is under syndicalist influence, to hold demonstraions in Trafalgar Square. COIXXEKIES FXOODED. As a result of the miners' strike, two I collieries at Swansea have become flooded owing to the men refusing to pump. One of the Bishop Auckland collieries is closed permanently. Four hundred Oxford undergraduate* hasve offered their services to work in the mines. Cutting off the supply of electricity to Sheffield in the daytime has made many factories idle. At Aberdeen the lighting and tramway services are being curtailed. Fifteen hundred of Cammell. Laird, and Company's engineers at Birkenhead struck for a shilling increase. The firm declares that if it es expected to pay higher wages than is done elsewhere it must recognise that the Mersey is not more suitable for ship-building than the Thames, and must make arrangements accordingly.

TROUBLE ur AUIIBAIU. OVER ATTEBHOON SHIFT. GENERAL STRIKE POSSIBLE, (Beceived 11.15 a-m.) SYDNEY, this day. Disruption has occurred between the proprietors and the men in the Newcastle Conciliation Committee. The proprietors flatly stated that they would not allow tbe question of the abolition of the afternoon shift to come before the Committee for settlement. The miners at Newcastle and Maitland have been for mouths agitating for the abolition of this shift, contending that it is irksome and robs them of the most advantageous period, tbe evening. The proprietors con tend that the abolition would make it impossible to work the pits efficiently. The proprietors' announcement caused consternation amongst the men's representatives, and the Committee adjourned sine die.

An atmosphere of unrest prevails and a general strike is regarded as not unlikely.