STRIKES IN BRITAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24851, 24 March 1944, Page 3

STRIKES IN BRITAIN

42,000 IDLE WORKERS MINES AND WAR PLANTS LONDON. March 29 As coal owners and miners' leaders began wage stabilisation talks in Lon-, don thousands more Yorkshire pit workers joined the thousands alreadystriking, bringing the total idle to abont 22,000. Thirteen collieries are affected. Xearly 20,000 workers in Belfast shipYards and aircraft and engineering in-, dustries are also idle because of striken over wages.

PARLIAMENTARY TOUR PARTY FOR NEW ZEALAND (Reed. 5.35 p.m.* LONDON, March 22 A frank interchange of views on the friendliest basis is the hope of the Parliamentary delegates who are leaving shortly for Australia and New Zealand. Lieutenant-Colonel E. T. R. Wiekham, leader of the delegation, and the EaiT of Listowel, the deputy-leader, both emphasised this when the delegation held a press conference to-day. Two of the delegates were born in Australia. They are ilr. Reginald Purbrick and Mr. S. R. Etherton. Mr. Herbert Butcher is most interested in New Zealand because his mother was born in Auckland. Colonel Wiekham said the delegation, during their four weeks in Australia and two weeks in New Zealand, wished to learn as much as possible about the. respective war efforts. They also wished. to exchange views on social security, economic and other post-war problems. Dr. Edith Summerskill, the first woman ever to travel as a member of the Empire Parliamentary Association is also the delegation's medical adviser. She is most interested in the social service treatment of Australians and New Zealnnders from hirth to old age. She added: "I also want to see for myself if girls educationally receive similar chances to hoys from the infant - schools to the universities."

According to advice received by the secretary of the New Zealand branch of tho Empire Parliamentary Association, Mr. 0. M. Bothamley, the personnel of the delegation is as follows:—Messrs. Sydney R. Etherton, W. R. D. Perkins, Reginald Purbrick, G. S. Summers and v Colonel E. T. R. Wickham (all Con-., servatives), Mr. FT. W. Butcher: (Xational Liheral), Major S. F. Markham (Liberal-Labour), the Earl of Lis-;;, towel, Dr. Edith Summerskill and Mr.--; Frank Collindridge (all Labour).The delegation will arrive in Aus-',.] tralia some' time in May and will later /,;, come to New Zealand. There will also be four Canadian delegates, whose names have not yet bwri recn-vprf, ;