THE BIRMINGHAM LABOUR TROUBLE

Grey River Argus, 20 January 1912, Page 5

THE BIRMINGHAM LABOUR TROUBLE

DO NOT WANT A STRIKE,

SUGGESTIONS MjADE;

"DOWN, WITH THE TOOLS.'-'

tßy Electric Telegraph— Copyright.)

(Per Press Association)

(Red 11.5,p.m) LONDON, Jan 19. The Birming-ham conference represents six hundred thousand workers. Enoch Edwards, president, in a speech hoped for a settlement without a miserable strike. The conference adjourned to enable the executive to complete its report. The general opinion of the delegates seems to favour the exempting of the aged and dnfirm from the operation of the minimum wagre. They are willing- to discuss with a joint committee of the masters and men whether they could not exclude the habitual malingerers.' ■•

Prior to the conference the council of the Miners' Federation considered the minimum wa^-es demanded in various districts, particularly South Wales, which aroused a bitter controversy.

Mr • W. . Harvey, M.P., states that the .demands made by Wales and Northumberland exceeded reasonable limits, doubtless owing to wild statements made by local leader, whose panacea for all ills was the doctrine of ."down with the tools." Mr Harvey added that already 75 per cent had received the minimum wa^e. and another 15 per centum would get it without a strike, through good management. The mine was affording fair facilities for all miners. . 5 >

Mr Barries M.P., said that in view of the ballot and the masters' atti-. tude, a strike seemed inevitable. If* the meeting of masters and nien in South Wales indicated the, employees' spirit, he did not think much of the prospects. for an early settlement.