COAL STRIKE OVER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8079, 6 April 1912, Page 5

COAL STRIKE OVER

RESULT OF BALLOT PROBABLE EARLY RESUMPTION OF WORK. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April 6, 0.10 a.m.) LONDON, .April 4. The secretary of the Miners’ Federation, Mr Ashton, announces that the necessary two-thirds majority for continuing the strike was not obtained. There is every indication that the Miners’ Federation will declare the strike off to-day. The result of the ballot taken by the Miners’ Federation on the question of whether the men will resume work pending the district board’s settlement of the minimum in the various grades lias been announced. The voting w'as as under: For resumption 158,836 Against 182.747 There were large abstentions from voting, including 30,130 in Durham. SIGNS OF PEACE. The owners and men in Lancashire and South Wales' have appointed boards to fix the minima. There have been many additional resumptions of work in Scotland. The minors of North Staffordshire and Walsall will resume to-day. The minors’ war chest for Durham, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, and Nottingham still contains £750,000. Though only two-thirds of the miners voted on the question whether or not work would be resumed, an increasing number of pits are reopening. COMMENTS BY LEADERS. Mr Ashton, secretary to the Miners’ Association, states that as a two-thirds majority had produced a strike, a twothirds majority was necessary to continue it. Mr Albert Stanley, Labour M.P., at a mass meeting at Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, raid it was now impossible to secure the necessary twothirds majority in favour of continuing the strike. A resolution in favour of returning to work was almost unanimously carried, despite the previous contrary ballot. Another leading miners’ official, interviewed, said it was doubtful if a two-thirds majority was necessary, but the Miners’ Federation must wipe up the mess. The reason for obstreperousness was found in the continuance of strike , pay. South Wales was pacific because the funds were exhausted. The Federation must order resumption of work and ask the district executives to suspend strike pay. s The decrease in railway business owing to the strike is put at £2,500,000. OFFICIAL RETURN THE FINAL FIGURES. FEDERATION EXECUTIVE SUGGESTS RESUMPTION, • (Received April 6, 1.5 a.m.) LONDON, April 4. The final result of the miners’ ballot has been officially declared. ! -The figures are as under: For resumption 201,013 Against resumption 214,011 There is no rule covering the matter,” but as there is hot a two-thirds majority against resumption the executive of the Miners’ Federation suggests that a National Conference be called for Saturday. The executive recommends resumption of work. MANY WILD SCENES GRIEVANCES LEAD STRIKERS TO USE FORCE. LONDON, April 3. .Two thousand men and women attempted to hinder non-unionists 'at the Glencraig pit, in Fifeshire. There wore wild scenes. Fifty police, mostly mounted, made several charges, the rioters replying with heavy volleys of stones. Order was eventually restored. Strikers smashed numerous windows of houses at Pontypool, Wales, in con-* junction with grievances regarding the working of coal outcrops. Many were injured, one critically. THE REMEF FUND (Received April 6,2 a.m.) LONDON, April 6. The High Commissioner for New Zealand, Sir William Hall-Jones, has received £llß6, chiefly from Otago, and has distributed it for the benefit of women and' children suffering through the strike at Cardiff, Middlesboro, Stockton, Grimsby, Stoke, Chesterfield, Leeds, and other centres where there- is distress. The Prince of Wales has donated £SOO to the fund for the relief of -those suffering - through the strike. GISBORNE, April 4. The sum of £l7O has been contributed to the “ Herald’s ” fund for the relief of the distressed people of Britain. The amount will be forwarded through the Premier. HASTINGS, April 4. So far £SO has been contributed to the “Tribune” fund for the relief of strike victims in Great Britain. Mr G. P. Donnelly has also given' the Mayor £IOO for the same object.