THE MINERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue XLIX, 14 January 1916, Page 5

THE MINERS

MINERS' FEDERATION'S OPPOSITION. -v- . LONDON, Jan. 12. The branches'of the Miners' Federation are almost unanimous in opposing compulsion. NATIONAL STRIKE FAVOURED. LONDON, Jan. 13. Sir Asquith privately conferred with the Labour leaders, including Messrs Henderson, Roberts, and Brace, upon compulsion. , The South. Wales-miners' conference decided that the only method to effectively oppose compulsion was a nation-ii strike after a ballot of all the Brit-sh miners. , , , During the House of Commons debate Mr Ellis Griffiths said the opposition came from Nationalists and Labourites. Ho added ironically that compulsion tor a man to ioin a trade union was a splendid example of liberty, but to, compel a man to ioin the army was treason. Air D'illon said he regarded the compulsion campaign-' as a conspiracy to drive out Mr Asoujth, Lord Kitchener, and Sir Edward Grey. No doubt the. national conference ct miners to-dav will pass an academic resolution against compulsion, since tlie delegates will not vote according ut their personal opinions, but hte dicision of the district conferences. It is not likely that .the majority wl. favour a national down tools policy. The vote of the South Wales Fedc*<tion is regarded as bluff, particularly in view of the Merthyr Tydvil ejection.

WHAT THE FRENCH WORKERS HAVE DONE. LONDON, Jan. 10. '-~ "The Times" correspondent at Pajis that the decision of the Bntis-i Labour Conference has frankly puzzled Frenchmen, who - regard it as a sign that .ignorance still prevails in Britain: of whit is at stake. French Lahu-ir is gladly bearing many things w:i:cn in time of peace would have t tmendous conflicts between a \ a Capital. ' Fraince ihas mobilised t-w sevln million mem, and is lustcjhn, up for training the 18-year-old clas*. ! [ HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. I The Higb Ctormxrisßioner j London, Jan. 12, 5.55 P-m. 1 Thfi Miners' Federation, by 162 to a?, voTed in favour of a ; national strike in He event of compulsory military service oeing enforced. Miners throughout the country ballotted before adopting this I C ° m ' s6 ' London, Jan.' 12, 8.10 p.m. The resignations of labour-member 'of the Set have been withdrawn I In. the House of Commons Mr Asqmth ! promiS To introduce an -mcndmen to the Military Service (No 2). JJiU venting employers from dismissing 01,noxious workmen.

PLEA FOR SMALt, CABINET. .(Rec- Jan. 14, 8.5 a.m.) IiONDON, Jan. 13, <\U- Crwvne editor of the "Morning T»£t» sfficin- at the Constitutional mons to form a- nationaL p a - - h should petition the V»iff to 22 Cabinet -Minister* and .appoint e.thei three or five Cabinet Ministers with a pSy programme that there is to be no v£ice 'unless the D™»™ ion f ;,-a itrreed on the terms and the pion.in of Germans becomiu, a P«tner j>n a' British firm or being domiciled l J the Empire for 25 years; a'tariff f f P e J cent, against Germany ancUn 1 per cent, for every month the w ai con tinties.