THE COAL STRIKE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 7 March 1912, Page 5

THE COAL STRIKE.

ANOTHER CONFIRfcNGE. SUGGESTED BASIS OF SETTLEMENT. . (Press Association. —Copyright.) LONDON. March 6. The coal-owners will reassemble to-day for a further conference with the Premier. ' ' The Federation informed the transport workers that it was unnecessary for them to declare a syrrj>athetic strike. Professor A. V. Dicey, ia a letter to "The Times," urges the repeal of the. Trades<Dit putes Act. as neither masters nor men should possess, the privilege of committing wrongs. He recommends adequate protection of miners where the right to- work is menaced. Mr W. T. Stead, writing to "The Times," suggests that the nation shou.d guarantee tfie mine owners anv loss during a three- months" trial of the minimum wage, and thus obtain d'ata from which to arrange a permanent settlement. Twenty steamers have been chartered to convey American and Wo.-tphaliaii coal to the Mediterranean and South American depots which have hitherto been supplied from Wales. Officials are caring for the Whitburn pit ponies. A crowd at Rvhope overpowered a watchman and looted coal waggons. The "Daily Chronicle" predicts that the Government will to-morrow introduce a Bill establishing the principle of the minimum wage. The says that as the result- of inquiries among the miners and tßeir leaders the Cabinet antic-pates a satisfactory settlement within a week. It adds that the men are likelv to slightly modify the wage schedule enabling the owners to reconsider the main points on which the opnosition thereto is based. j MINERS AT PLAY. HAVING A "JOLLY GOOD TIME." (Rec. March 7, 10.20 a.m.) LONDO-., March 6. I Many Staffordshire and Derbyshire I miners attended the Uttoxeter races. Blackpool is full of visitors well sup- j plied iv"ith money. j * Three ihundred pit boys at- Sunderland ] raided the paddocks, and seized a j pony apiece, and executed a wild midnight gallop through the villages ' Many Yorkshire miners are following the Sounds on foot. I Grammaphone shops m Wales are crowded, and the picture- theatres at Poritvpiidd are open continuously. Wholesale houses are refusing to supply tradesmen in mining communities except for cash. Many shops are closing. OUTLOOK MORE HOPEFUL. MINERS WILLING TO NEGOTIATE (Received 11.5" a.m.) LONDON, Wednesday. -The Industrial Council is considering ; tbe miners' schedule with th e masters fiS Amore optimistic feeling preyads. The executive of the Miners Fed - tion has agreed to meet the Industrial C °Replying to Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald in the House of Commons the Premier said that it was pure imagination to con elder that the Government was g°>"=> to introduce a Bill laving down arinimnm wage. The strike position - verv delicate and he hoped it wou.d not be dded in the House of Commons 3 V P bfGo;-ernment is meeting the men's representatives to-day.