BRITISH MINERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10685, 3 September 1920, Page 5

BRITISH MINERS

AVOIDING A TURMOIL % TRIPLE ALLIANCE IN CONTINUOUS SESSION , Bv Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Assouiation. (Received September 2, 9.26 p.m.) LONDON. September 1. The executive of, the Triple Alliance is remaining in continuous session with power to add. to its number. It is expected to approach tho (Government with the object of reopening the negotiations. It is unlikely that trado unions will allow matters to drift towards a strike. "STRIKE WOULiTrUIN US." FUTILE WITHOUT UNITY. (Received September 2, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 1. A prominent member of the South Wales miners' executive states: "A strike would ruin us- as an organisation and undo all we have accomplished. ' Undoubtedly wo should be hopelessly divided throughout the country. The miners would strike without unity, which is essential to success. A fortnight's strike would deplete the funds of the federation completely. I cannot contemplate tho awful things that would, happen if lafcge masses of people were idle. ,The demand for a reduction of the price of coal should be dropped, and the demands confined to advance in wages. At the present stage, of industrial trouble in Britain it is of interest to recall what the Triple Alliance really is and how it came to be formed In 1913 the Miners': Federation of Great Britain instructed tho executivo council to approach the similar governing bodies of big -unions, with a view to cooperative aotion in support of each other's labour demands. The big dock and coal strikes of 1911 and 1912 had "proved the need for common understanding. After much discussion during which the M.F.G.B. delegates tried without success to get tho raili way and transport workers' unions to agree to a ballot of the members to afl three organisations before , declaring a strike, an. agreement. for joint action was notified on December 9th, 1915. A consultative committee of two members from each executive meets occasionally—it can call a conference of the three - exeoutives—on a matter of national importance to the unions, and all movements by one likely to involve, the other organisations are supposed to be submitted to them, otherwise sympathetic action is. not to be anticipated. Several meetings were held last year, and the Alliance, had. undoubtedly a great influence on. a satisfactory settlement of the 'railway strike in September and October. • ♦•CLOSE DOWN" POLICY ATTITUDE OF MANUFACTURERS. (Received September 2, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 1. Manufacturers all over England, replying to the National Union of Manufacturers' Circular favour tho "close down!! policy,,hj,,.the. event of a coal strike. The union promises the Government its whole-hearted support regardless of the immediate consequences, provided the Government will eventually not concede everything that is demanded, as it did in the caso of the railway strike.