COAL MINERS’ STRIKE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XX, Issue 5191, 20 July 1915, Page 5

COAL MINERS’ STRIKE.

NO PAY FROM UNION. ANXIETY IN FRANCE. Electric Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. London, Last Night. The majority of the miners in conversation, hotly resent the charges of unpatriotisim, pointing out that a number of miners have enlisted. Most of the leaders have sons in the army, the majority holding commissions. An unpleasant shock has been felt owing to the announcement that there was no strike pay in the South Wales war chest, which only contains a week's strike pay. There is no likelihood of the strikers receiving assistance iron} the Miners’ Federation or other trade unions. Most of the men are still convinced that in this hour of national crisis, they have the country at their mercy. There is a widespread impression in South Wales that the Government will concede all the men’s terms except ’ the stipulation for a three-years’ agreement. The matters in dispute will l>e referred to a tribunal' under the Munitions Act, which will decide regarding the marginal differences between Mr Runciman’s awards and the men’s full demands. The workers would then have to ratify or reject the new agreement when arranged. Mr Tom Richards, M.P., and Mr Vernon Hartshorn, state that the men believe the masters have played upon their patriotism in order to induce them to accept unwelcome terms. They believe the Government had been pulled by the employers, who are now relying on the Government to force the men into the pits. Paris, Last Night.

The crisis in South Wales is anxiously followed in France, where the' German occupation in Department of the Nord has decreased the French output by 30,000.000 tons. France is relying on Britain to make up the deficiency. The French miners have stopped all holidays and accepts ed and extension of hours without a murmer, although the conditions were already telling on their health and strength. The “Gaulois” suggests that the South Wales miners -are being cleverly exploited by Germ,an agents. Berne. Last Night. There is jubilation in Germany and Austria over the coal strike.

NO IMPROVEMENT. (Received this day at 8.50 a.m ) London, This Day. The coal strike situation has not improved.