The Advocate. [Established 1888.] [PUBLISHED DAILY.] OLDEST ESTABLISHED PAPER AND GUARANTEED LARGEST CIRCULATION IN THE DISTRICT. FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1912. A LABOR UPHEAVAL.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXIII, Issue 309, 12 January 1912, Page 4

The Advocate. [Established 1888.] [PUBLISHED DAILY.] OLDEST ESTABLISHED PAPER AND GUARANTEED LARGEST CIRCULATION IN THE DISTRICT. FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1912. A LABOR UPHEAVAL.

British trade and commerce is again under the shadow of a great labor unheaval, and onco more the threatened trouble comes from the coal miners. Mr Has'lain, <a Labor M.P., lias asserted that the Derby Miners' Association bad reduced its demands considerably, but nevertheless, appearances threatened one of the biggest struggles ever known. A further cable, published yesterday, giving the views of tho president of the Scottish Miners' Federation, shows that the. outlook is particularly gloomy. Britain, depending as it does for its ilifo o.n outside communication being maintained, is peculiarly liable to be prejudicially affected by a strike in which tho coalminers' and railway men are affected. The Admiralty evidently regard tho position as serious, as they intend to monopolise the Cardiff shipping, for the conveyance of Welsh coal, for months. The present is a particularly favorable time for a -huge-strike, because trade in Britain is in a. flourishing state, and tho owners may be the more disposed to make torms with the men than they would were the trade conditions less satisfactory. But al the same, it is clear that there must be a limit .to the concessions that are granted by tho mincownors. They will not grant, apparently, a minimum wage, preferring to hold the right to pay according to work done. Here we have the proverbial brick waill, and tho question is how is it to be sur mounted 1 ? Mr Churchill apparently considers it oan be accomplished by a, special Act, although it is rather difficult to see how legislation cam bo passed to make <a man work in a coalmine if he is not so inclined. The Government may propose to rely upon tho .soldiery, but iany such course as that may involve the creation of an even more'unpleasant state of things than a strike. The plain fact is that the whole relations between Capital and Labor must be put on an improved footing, and tho man who oan suggest a, way that will bo acceptable to lx>th sides will deserve well indeed of his country. Tho solution of the difficulty will' probably come from one or other of two courses—'there moist either be State ownership of the mines, or a, system of projnt-shtariiiig must bo devised, which' will do away with tho cHaim. that the wages now paid are inadequate. There is gradually arising all over the world ia mighty force, wt present undisciplined l and not organ-

ised, which will exercise a paramount control in these matters. That force, Organised Labor, led and .controlled by brainy men, lias 'got to be reckoned with. What the ultimate -result wilt b° no one can foreshadow, but the outlook at present suggests vast potentialities for good or evil.