MILITANT LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1335, 12 January 1912, Page 5

MILITANT LABOUR

1 THE COTTON STRIKEUNION LEADERS' MISTAKE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, January 10. The "Westminster Gazette" states that when the trade union leaders started the cotton strike in two sheds they did not expect that the employers would lock out 160,000 men. They now realise their mistake, and are anxious to get out of the difficulty, and have proposed a secret agreement with masters regarding the employment of non-unionists. The masters, however, refused it. EFFIGY BURNED. (Rcc. January 12, 0.5 a.m.) London, January 11. Miss Bury, a non-unionist weaver, has been hounded out of Great Harwood and her effigy burned. The strike at Great Harwood was duo to her employment. THE MINERS. London, January 10. Mr. Charles Fenwick, M.P. for Wansbeck, Northumberland, speaking at a meeting of Northumberland miners, said he feared that in the midst of the present unrest the men were being carried away by mere phrases. Mr. J. Haslam, Labour M.P. for Chesterfield, Derbyshire, interviewed, said that the Derby Miners' Association was anxious to avoid ft strike. The reduction in the demands was considerable; nevertheless, appearances threatened one of the biggest struggles known. The first million of men out would be followed by another million. » (Rec. January 12, 0.5 a.m.) London, January 11. The Northumberland coal-owners, in a manifesto, declare that a fixed minimum wago irrespective of work performed is impracticable, and they are unable to concede it, believing that payment in proportion to work done was reasonable.

Mr. Enoch Edwards is hopeful ol a solution of tho dispute, and denies tho existonco of an agreement for a simultaneous strike in Germany.

SCOTTISH MINERS. London, January 10. Mr. Smillie, president of the Scottish Miners' Federation, at a mass meeting in Lanarkshire, stated that ho told Mr. Churchill at a conference that if there was a colliery strike the railways would stop in k fortnight, and Dreadnoughts would be scrap-iron in six weeks. Mr. Churchill replied that tho Government would pass a Bill to prevent this. Mr. Smillie said that a general stoppage would force the people to believe that tho industry was too important for private owneiship. LABOUR'S ATTITUDE. London, January 10. Mr. A. Henderson, M.P. for Durham, speaking at Sunderland, declared that the Labour members would not support tho Disestablishment and Homo Rulo Bills for nothing, nor would they be contented with the promise of an Electoral Reform Bill for next session. They intended to demand a fair share of time for Labour legislation. ANTICIPATING A STRIKE..,. . London, January 10. Admiralty orders will monopolise the Cardiff shipping tonnage for months. A hundred thousand tons of coal have been re<i nisitioned. The "Daily Chronicle" states that in the event of a British strike the German colliers will strike simultaneously, MINERS RESUME WORK. Hobart, January 11. Five hundred men are working at Mount Lyell. Tho mino management can. put on an additional two hundred. STRIKE OF CLIPPERS. Sydney, January 11. Notwithstanding his recent speech declaring that he was making efforts to inaugurate industrial peace, Mr. Brown's Pclawmain colliery is idle, through a strike of clippers, who are dissatisfied over the dismissal of .two of their number. Eight hundred men are affected. THE WOOL-COMBERS. (Rec. January 12, 0.5 a.m.) London, January 11. The wool-combers have decided to resume work on the masters' terms.