ANXIETY IN BRITAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19455, 11 October 1926, Page 11

ANXIETY IN BRITAIN.

COAL STRIKE OIJTLOOK. MINERS' LATEST THREAT. CALL TO THE SAFETY-MEN. ItniTET AS TO RESULT. FUEL SHORTAGE FEARED. By Telecraph-—Press Awociation--Copyright. (.Received 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z.-Snn. LONDON. Oct. 0. It is generally believed that the threat to withdraw the safety-men from the coalmines will not bo carried out, but the possibility of it is adding to the anxiety which is felt. The secretary of the principal Safetymen's Union, Mr. Robert Shirkie, states that if the Miners' Federation were to withdraw all the safety-men who are members of the union it would not stop a single colliery in the entire kingdom. Mr. Shirkie says tho federation cannot carry out tho threat, which ho describes as "sheer bluff" and "stupid bluff." The resolution of tho federation applies to 5 per cent, of the men at the utmost. The president of another national rmion which embodies safety-men, Mr. Miller, says the members will carry on their duties regardless of the Miners' Federation. Reports from Yorkshire and other districts indicato that thero is little likelihood of the safety-men striking. , As a result of the insistence of tho delegates from the Midlands and the North the miners' conference has resolved that a district vote, returnable on Thursday,, shall decide whether the order calling out the safety-men shall be obeyed. The conference suspended Mr. Spencer, Labour M.P., for arranging for a resumption of work at Nottingham. Coal Supplies Dwindling Rapidly. Although 200,000 miners are reported to be working again this is only one-fifth of the total number employed in the industry. Coal supplies are dwindling rapidly. Each householder is now allowed lewft b, fortnight and must obtain permission to use more. The charge is 4s 3d a cwt. as against 2s 6d before tho strike. Practically all stocks of electric and gas stoves have been exhausted owing to sudden demands from people who had anticipated that the strike would be over before September. Every kind of substitute for coal is in demand. Peat and logs are being sold extensively. The approach of winter is increasing the general anxiety. Some hospitals are without coal, others are just managing to carry on from week to week. Should cold weather set In suddenly it might upset all calculations. The streets grow darker and darker. There is some possibility of tho curtailment of train services. Terrible Stories of Suffering. The local authorities continue to cue down poor law relief votes. In many Instances they have been stopped entirely. Whereas before the strike there were 1,222,000 recipients of relief the total on June 30 was 2,420,000. According to the Ministry of Health this represents 622 per 10,000 of the population. Stories of stark suffering are featured in the Labour paper, Daily Herald. It asserts that hundreds of children are suffering terribly from lack of nourishment and that sickness is spreading and poverty is so acute iD thousands of homes that blankets and winter clothing are unknown. Such articles were pawned long ago. CABINET TO MEET. FRANK HODGES!' REBUKE. MEN'S INCOMPETENT LEADERS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. CRecd. 11.30.p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 10. The Cabinet is to meet early this week to consider the miners' decision to withdraw the safety-men from the pits. The secretary of tho International Miners' Federation, Mr. Frank Hodges, in a statement to the British Federation, Says: "The crumpling up and wreckage of the miners' homes is due to a subtle combination of minority propaganda with incompetent leadership."