THE COAL STRIKE.

Manawatu Times, Volume XII, Issue 1807, 4 May 1921, Page 5

THE COAL STRIKE.

NO SIGN OF SETTLEMENT,

[Bv Electric Cable —Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON, May 2.

This is the. fifth week of the coal strike, but a settlement still seems afar off, though powerful influences are working to bring the miners and owners together. It is suggested that the Hon. Lowthor, cx-Speaker, should act as arbitrator. The Government view* is that there must be a ballot of all the miners forthwith especially as a majority of the executive are known to favour acceptance of the £10,000,000 subsidy offer. Meanwhile the trains will be reduced to half the normal number on Wednesday.

Reports of growing hardships arc coming in from all parts of the country. East Lancashire particularly is in a terrible plight. The accumulated stocks of coal have been exhausted and the street ligSitnlng is suspended. The trams have been reduced to two days weekly. Strike pay has ceased. LONDON, May 2.

The House of Commons by 176 to 22, approved of calling up 25,000 naval reservists to protect the mines.

PLOT FRUSTRATED.

LONDON, Alay 2.

It is authoritatively stated that a communist plot to utilise the industrial crisis to effect a revolution In the United Kingdom has been frustrated. Tons of inflammatory leaflets have been circulated, and a number of the distributors arrested.

EMPTY COFFERS.

The North Wales Miners’ Federation has paid the last of the available funds to the strikers. There is much distress, and soup kitchens have been opened.

THE TRUTH.

(Received Tuesday, 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, May 3i"

Mr Hall, the Derbyshire miner’s leader, in a speech blurted out what many declare is the truth at last. He said: ‘T am proud that the miners are not making this a mere wage question. It is a political question, and if the Government had offered us a reduction of only sixpence a. day, we should not have accepted it.”