GREAT APPEAL TO THE COAL MINERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2523, 31 July 1915, Page 5

GREAT APPEAL TO THE COAL MINERS

MR. LLOYD GEORGE ON THE SPLENDID EXAMPLE OF THE COLONIALS' ' (By Telegraph,—Press Assn.—Copyright.) London, July 29. -Three thousand men attended tho National Conference of the mining industry at . the Itingsway Opera House. All the'leading miners and men were present, and every coalfield in the Kingdom was represented. Mr. Simeon, who presided, said that the miners had sent 250,000 of 'their comrades ;to the firing-line. The industry, owing to recruiting, was 3,000,000 tons, short monthly. With good will and greater effort it should be possible to recover some of the shortage, though ho hoped the regulations securing safety in tho mines would not bo 'modified. Tlio Eight Hours Act might be ' suspended during the war, but th® Government could not play tricks with the Act without consulting them. _ \ Mr. Lloyd Gcorgo was greeted with a roar of applause. He said that coal was the life-blood of the nation. Ho was not sure that the industry realised its importance at tho present time. "King Coal is the paramount lord of industry. It is our real international coinage. Shells mean coal; rifles and cannon mean coal. Tlio 350,000 British casualties were'really inflicted by tho Westplialian miner working in co-operation with, the Prussian engineer, without stint, without regulations, putting all his strength at the disposal of the Fatherland." ■ He went on to ask whether the British miners were doing their share in a similar way. Ho admitted that the country oould not expect- men to work overtime, suspend trado union regulations, and put forth their full strength if all was going well, and there was no danger.

A Serious Situation. ■ "But can anyone, reading tho news intelligently, doubt that the situatiou is serious, if not perilous? Thero are two now parties now—the pessimists and tho optimists, tlio blue-sky school and the grey sky; but I think the sky is mottled. Wo ought to remember that the sun is shinuig'behind the storm clouds, but should prepare-for a thunderstorm. Don't read tho head-lines in the newspapers, but read the news. The man who does not then understand the peril of his country would not belioveit if one roso from the dead. Thoro aro hundreds of thousands of dead lying in. the East and West who could toll of the peril if they roso. Events ,in the East portend that a larger sharo of the burden than ever will be cast upon Great Britain's shoulders. It is useless to pay nine-tenths tho price of victory: You cannot bridge a 12ft. stream with an lift, plank." - There was only one question that air classes and all trades must ask themselves: Are wo doing enough to secure victory,_ when-it means the fate of freedom for ages? There was too much disposition to cling to tho amenities of peace, too much tho fashion to call for lockouts, strikes, ca' canny methods, slowing up of output, and sprees, sothat all our wages would go up, profits improved, and prices kept down. It was also said that no man must be called to serve tlio State unless ho wishes, or should only do work he liked, not what fitted him. "This freedom implies the right to shirk; this freedom implies the right for you to expect and enjoy, and for others to defend tho country. Is that fair?' Assuredly, victory is not that road. Lesson from the Colonials. ■"There is a- story of Australian and New Zealand battalions which has not yet appeared. I will defy the Press Bureau and tell it. The New Zea-. landers and Australians wore facing a Turk attack the other day. What was the effect? No man would go on the sick list; not all the doctors in the regiments could persuade them. They would not complain; there was no pulse-feeling, I can tell you. (Cheers.) There was no shirking., Not until tlio attack was over and they had finished the Turks would they go on to hospital. - ... - "That is tlio spirit which alone will enable us to win through. Nothing short of this will achieve victory. _ The peril is a great and immediate one, but if the democracy of Britain rises to the occasion they will again triumph over all the forces of despotism.. lho tune has como for every man and, woman to help their country." -. !"Tho soldiers are waiting anxiously to hear the rattle of loaded caissons, coming from England. Let us fill the wagons, and when that is done there will bo written in letters of flame a story of how tho flag of freedom drooped for a moment under the onslaughts of a ruthless foe, but how the men and women of Britain came to tho rescuo and planted it- firmly, where na tyranny will ever tear it down." ' A Creat Scene. Mr. Lloyd George was visibly moved at his The house was packed from stalls to gallory. Rows of coalowners and miners' delegates occupied the platform. The speech was full of picturesque phrases, and had tho quality of intimacy arising out of the faot that he was anions men who knewliim well. Tho'tbreat to defy tho Press Bureau was greeted with general laughter. The Australian story following, aroused good applause, tha closing passage having an electrio eftcct. The meeting again rose to its feet and cheered itself hoarse, when Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. 'A. Henderson left to attend a Cabinet meeting.. Mr. Smillio then proposed, and Mr. A. P. 1 lease, president of tho Minors' Association, seconded a resolution urging tho owners and workmoif to secure the greatest possible output of coal during the war. The Confercnco passed the resolution amidst enthusiasm,-

FRENCH GENERAL'S MESSAGE TO CREUSOT'S ' ... Paris, July 29. General Maudhay Ims written to Crfiusots muniiiou workers as follows:— "I hear you are working day and night to send guns and shells. Bravo I Thanks! ' By so doing you will siivo tho lives of many of your brothers, and we will win a-crushing victory all tho cooncr. 'Jim vi'orhofii "si's wv&re of tlia tislji, q«'s, our gallant 'brotficps-w'ftwgi- ri'on can CQtttttr oh t*Bx WOT WWli Pa - jfo v _""