COAL STRIKE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 11 October 1926, Page 5

COAL STRIKE

WITHDRAWAL OF SAFETYMEN

MINERS’ FEDERATION THREAT

DESCRIBED AS "STUPID BLUFF

(By Electric Telegraph.-Copyright.) V'Sim" Cable.)

LON DOTS'. Oct, 8

Mr Robert Shirkie, secretary ol the principal SatVtyim iUs Union, stales that if the Miners’ Federation withdraws all safety men who- are members of Hie, union it would not stop a single colliery in the whole kingdom. He says the" federation cannot carry out the threat, which is sheer bluff, and stupid bluff. The Federation’s, resolution applies to five per cent of, the men at the utmost.

Mr Miller, president, of another national union embodying safetymen states that members will carry on their duties regardless of the Miners’ Federation. Reports from Yorkshire and other districts indicate that there is little likelihood of the men striking.

EARLY MEETING OF CABINET

LONDON, Oct. 9

Cabinet meets early in the week to consider the miners’ decision regarding the withdrawal of safteymen. Mr Frank Hodges, in a statement, says the. Miners' Federation is crumpling up. The wreckage of the miners’ homes is due to the subtle combination of minority propaganda with incompetent leadership.

POOR RELIEF

LONDON, Oct, 8

Whereas before the strike there were 1.222,000 recipients of poor law relief, the total on 30th .Tunc was 2.427).000. This, according to a report from the Ministry of Health, represents 622 per ten thousand of the population. As a. result, of the insistence of the Midland and Northern miners, the conference resolved that the district, vote, returnable on Thursday, shall decided whether the calling out of the safety men shall he obeyed.. .

The conference suspended Mr G. A. Spencer, a member of the House of Commons, for arranging for a resumption at Nottingham.