FACED WITH HUNGER

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10251, 31 May 1926, Page 5

FACED WITH HUNGER

A PITIABLE PLIGHT

IVRIAKF FOR FAMIIIKS.

1 .Electric Telegraph—Press Association LONDON, May 28. Over a million miners have heevr on strike for four weeks to-day, during which time not a hundred weight of coal has been raised in the entire coalfields of Britain. The men are reported to be as determined today as a month ago. Meantime the stranglehold on industry is becoming more effective hourly. Works are closing down daily, and the iron and steel industry lias been brought to a standstill. Blast furnaces have been blown out. At Clydesside alone, more than eighteen thousand iron and steel workers have been rendered idle, and domestic coal is being most severely rationed.

Over the whole country, train services are skeletonised, and it is expected that racing will be suspended next week. There will be no specials, ami no excursion trains on Derby Day. The King and Queen will go to Epsom by road. Every day adds thousands to the ranks of the unemployed. Officials are snowed under by a-|>-plieations for relief by those out of work through the coal strike. Whole communities in the mining districts are existing on poor relief. Soup .kitchens have been established everywhere. Rents and rates are unpaid., and many tradesmen in mining districts are putting up their shutters as they are unable to give further credit.

The greatest efforts are being made to spare the women and children. Funds have been opened, anti are being generously supported by the owners. One owner sent a cheque for £'loo to Miss Sybil Thorndike and others have issued appeals.

The miners received i‘looo from the Farm Workers’ Union, and many contributions have been received from abroad. Germany sent £SOOO, Czecho-Slovakia £IOOO. and Austria, Holland, Belgium. Jugo-Slavia several hundred pounds each. Strike pay is still being issued, varying from £1 to five shillings weekly. A disastrous collierv fire occurred at Bargoed. South Wales, the fusing of an electric wire causing ignition Na.pthalene flames lit lip the whole vallev. The damage is estimated at £20,000 to £30,000. “STATE foUERGENCY” CONTINUES. \ LONDON, May 27 - A Royal proclamation has been gazetted, declaring continuance of State emergency conditions, owing to the continued coal stoppage. MESSAGE FROM • PRINCE OF WALES.

LONDON'. MAY 30

The Prince ot Wales, who is a larjie coal owner in Somerset, sent .4.10 10s to the District Miners’ Wives and Children's Fund, accompanied by a letter: ‘‘His Royal Highness naturally cannot take sides in

r.ny dispute, but np all owe a debt to tbe miners in the past. Everyone sympathises with their wives and children in their hour of distress. Further sympathises with their wives

end children in their hour of distress. Further, it would he an undesirable end to any dispute that one side should have to give in oil account of the sufferings of their dependents llis Royal Highness is confident that with goodwill on either side, there will be a happy issue out of the present difficulties.” The Sunday papers correspondents report that the miners are increasingly tending to favour Mr Hodge's scheme for longer hours and unreduced pay as long as they can have peace.