NO IMMEDIATE SETTLEMENT PROBABLE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14306, 18 March 1912, Page 7

NO IMMEDIATE SETTLEMENT PROBABLE.

NEGOTIATIONS BROKEN OFF

United Preas Aisociaticn—By KltcirU T»'ejraph—Copyright.

LONDON, March 1.:.

Mr G. H. Roberts. Labour whip, defending his party against the allectntiou of inactivity, said that they vnable to rely on Parliament as at present constituted to deal justly with the vosition. He added that the clamour for legislative settlement w.ts fraught ".itb danger. Mr Ramsay Macdonald again attacks Mr Asquith in the "Labour Leader" for bundling and muddling, and says tliat otherwise the strike would have been ended. If a Bill were introduced hampering trade unions, helping to establish compulsory arbitration, or giving imperfect schedule prices, Labourites ■would oppose it tooth and nail. "sir H. P. Houston, Unionist member for West Toxteth, declares that ho has learned on good authority that no settlement of the strike is probable for several weeks. The miners at Durham disbursed £114,003 as a fortnight's strike pay. Out of 80,GCO unemployed in the potteries, 1000 are receiving unemployed benefit. Negotiations with tho coalowners have been broken off. The Premier has decided to legislate for a minimum wage for all underground men and boys. The Miners' Federation conference has decided that work sball not bo resumed until the final shape of tlio Act is determined. Owing to the coal strike the King has cancelled his State visits to foreign courts, which he intended to make in the spring of this year. His home engagements fill up the summer and autumn months. The "Westminster Gazette" cays that tho Government is justified in using all possible means to avoid the class divisions and upheavals which would ensue if the Government adopted the policy of destroying the labour laws evolved during the last forty years. When the present conflict is settled they may have to deliberately evolve a new policy to prevent the public from being at the mercy of the great primar} industries*.

The English railways are making further curtailments. The Midland Railway Company is advancing sums to unemployed on the understanding that they will repay the money when they aro re-encased.