A BLACK OUTLOOK.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12706, 8 March 1912, Page 5

A BLACK OUTLOOK.

STRIKE GRIP TIGHTENING

OFFER FROM UNIVERSITY

STUDENTS

(Press Assn.— By Telegraph.— Copyright.) „, LONDON, March 7. The strike situation is unchanged. There are no signs of yielding. The strike is slowly tightening its grip on every industry. - The trades union leaders are anxious m regard to the depletion of funds through those iii various industries being rendered idle. The Amalgamated Railway Servants' Society is faced with £20,000 Aveekly as unemployment pay. The Amalgamated Raihvay Servants' Society executive, m reply to certain branches, declares that m vieAv of the miners' favorable position there is no reason for combined, action. The committee adds that it is unable to sanction any refusal to Avork troop trains, and also forbade the Bermondsey branch, which is under syndicalist influence, to hold a demonstration m Trafalgar Square m reference to the rnuvers' strike. • Two collieries at Swansea have been flooded, owing to the men refusing to puimp one. The Bishop Auckland collieries have been closed permanently. Four hundred Oxford undergraduates have offered their services to work m the mines. The cutting-off of the electricity supply m Sheffield m the day time has idled many factories. At Aberdeen the lighting and tramway services are being curtailed. Fifteen hundred of Messrs Cammell and Laird's engineers at Birkenhead have struck for a. shilling increase. The firm declares that if- it is expected to pay higher AA-ages than elseAvhere it must recognise that the Mersey is no more suitable for shipbuilding than the Thames, and that it will make arrangements accordingly. v (Received March 8, 10.15" a.m.) LONDON, March 7. The North-western Railway Company denies the report, that it is reducing the number of trains. The Chronicle says that, the terms of the schedule do not admit of reasoned defence. "Tv ;-. • The Pall Mall Gazette demands the introduction of Australian methods, of compulsory arbitration, and the cutting off of strike funds. To-day's news' shows that the 'miners are feeling the pressure from other unions Avhose funds are being depleted. Electricians, clerks and sub-managers are Avorking the A'entilatipri .and drainage of the big Glamorgan colliery. The loss, including miners' Avages m South Wales, amounts to £400,000 Aveekly. The Trades and Labor. Council is urging the Cardiff City Council to provide free meals. 'TLe feeding of • school children is being arranged at -Mountain Ash. (Received March 8, 12.20 p.m.) Yorkshire and Derbyshire owners hare practically agreed to an eight hours' day for surfacemen and better pay. Speculators at Cardiff hold 100,000 tons of coal, purchased at £1 a ton; An offer showing 60 per cent: profit has been refused, the holders- ; asking 100 per cent. OroAvley, who distributed handbills at Aldershot, urging soldiers not to fire on strikers, "was committed for trial.