'WILL NOT CONSENT.'

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 74, 27 March 1912, Page 7

'WILL NOT CONSENT.'

— m COAL MINERS AND MINIMUM WAGE. BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S DETERMINATION. LEADER OF OPPOSITION SPEAKS KING WILL NOT GO TO THE RACES. CHILDREN HUNGRY AND WITHOUT CLOTHES. By Telegraph.— Preßa Association.— Copyright. (Received March 27, 9 a.m.) LONDON, 26th March. The Prime Minister (Mr. Asquith) announced in the House of Commons that it was important to pass the Minimum Wage Bill forthwith. The Government, he said, would not consent t« the insertion of provision for a minimurt wage. Mr. Bonar Law, Leader of the Opposi tion, intimated that the Opposition would not place obstacle's in the way of the passage of the Bill.' Tho Government, he added, had gone to unprecedented lengths to meet the miners. The King has cancelled his proposed visit to the Grand National meeting ai Liverpool, not desiring to indulge in public amusement while the country*, condition is so serious. Three hundred additional men hav< resumed work in North Wales, 400 in Warwickshire, and 600 at Rosehall. One-third of the population of likestone, Derbyshire, is subsisting oa charity. Children at Middlesbrough 1U in bed for lack of clothes. Others ar hungering in the streets. The South Wales owners have given £3000 to .the Swansea, Cardiff, and Newport Relief Committees, and tho West Yorkshire owners 1000 guineas to the local Relief Committee. STRONG APPEAL. CONFERENCE THAT FADLED. "NEXT TIME." ACTION WILL BE SWIFT AND SURE. LONDON/ 26th March. During the separate conferences with the owners' and miners' representatives, Mr. Asquith made a strong and passionate appeal to both sides to come to an agreement, but without success. Th& diplomatic pleading of Sir Edward Grey was equally resultless. The Government asked the miners io discuss exceptions to the 5s minimum, such as Northumberland and Durham, where coal and cottages are often provided in addition to wages. This the miners refused. The Daily Telegraph says the leaders of the Miners' Federation state that they gave too long notice and thus enabled the nation to replenish its coal stores. They threaten that next time action will be swift and sure. DAMAGES CLAIMED. GROWING DISTRESS. NOT SUFFICIENT~FUNDS TO COPE WITH IT. LACK OF FUEL. LONDON, 26th March. ' Three miners claimed damages from th« Lancashire Miners' Federation be- , cause the masters dismissed them in order to prevent the threatened strike in Lancashire. The Court decided that the federation was not suable. The public and municipal funds are unablo to cope with the growing distress. Some masters are not asking the colliers to pay rent for their cottages during the strike. Out of 160.000 people at Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, 60,000 are directly affected by the strike. The lack of fuel is a worse hardship than the lack of food. The, "corporation is retailing coal and coke in small quantities. The price of coal in London has increased 5s per ton. The Denaby colliery sold the Cunard Company 50,000 tons at £1 14s per ton. The colliery has a reserve of 200,000 tons, and is selling smaller quantities at £2 6s per ton. FREEDOM OF SPEECH. PROSECUTION OF ADVOCATES OF SYNDICALISM. RECENT SENTENCES. (Received March 27, 8 a.m.) LONDON, 26th March. In the House of Commons, Mr. J. C. Wedgwood, Liberal member for New-castle-under-Tyne, moved the rejection of the Consolidated Fund Bill as a protest against the Government's prosecution oi advocates of syndicalism. He stated that the working classes were suspicious of the Courts, and that the sentences recently passed on Guy Bowman and Benjamin and Charles Buck had confirmed them in the belief that there was no chance of justice if an accused person expressed syndicalist opinions. Mr. George Lansbury, Labour member for Tower Hamlets, seconded the motion. Sir Rufus Isaacs, Attorney-General, said that the only alternative to the use of the military was anarchy. If a petition was presented showing that the accused (Bowman and the Bucks.) acted in ignorance, he would be inclined to recommend a reduction of their sentences. Mr. Keir Hardie, Labour member for Merthyr Tydvil, warned the Government not to pursue a, policy of exasperation. There was no telling what the result would be if- the forces of revolt were loosedThe debate was adjourned. [Bowman was last- week sentenoed to nine months' imprisonment with hard labour and the Bucks to six months' imprisonment, each for inciting soldiers 'o mutiny if ordered to fire on the strikers. The incitement was contained in matter published in tho Syndicalist newspaper.] TOM MANN. PROTEST AGAINST HIS ARREST. DEFENCE"" FUND. (Received March 27, 8.5 a.m. LONDON, 26th March. Tho newly-formed Free Speech Daiwc« .Conyaiiijo pi th« Houfte pf Com. !

mons has protested against the Government prosecuting Mr. Tom Mann and others for recent speeches. A fund for the prisoners' defence has been started. A FIASCO. THE MINIMA DEMANDED. WELSH OWNERS LEA"YE THE CONFERENCE. (Received March 27, 11 a.m.) LONDON, 26th March. After two days' persuasion, the Premier succeeded in inducing the owners and men to confer, but the meeting was a fiasco. It is alleged that Mr. R. Smillie, the Scottish Laoour leader, demanded minima of 5s 9d and 2s 6d, whereupon the Welsh owners left the conference. IF THE PRESENT SITUATION CONTINUES. WHAT MAY HAPPEN. MR. BALFOUR ON THE MISUSE OF FREEDOM. (Received March 27, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, 26th March. Mr. V. Hartshorn, a Glamorgan Labour leader, interviewed, said :—"lf: — "If the present situation continues the men will seriously consider the matter of summoning the transport woilters and other organisations to assist them." Mr. Balfour, speaking in the city, denounced the misuse of ireedom of speech in order to permit mutiny. Such doctrines were sheer political lunacy. He was beginning to wonder if the forces of civilisation would be able to resist the agents of disintegration. CANCELLED. MANY JAPANESE ORDERS. FOR COAL. TOKIO,' 26th March. Many orders for coal placed in Great Britain have been cancelled and transferred to Germany or the United States. Japanese coal has risen forty yen (£4) per ton.