THE COAL STRIKE

Southland Times, Issue 19255, 20 June 1921, Page 5

THE COAL STRIKE

THE MINERS’ BALLOT. OVERWHELMING MAJORITY AGAINST SETTLEMENT. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 17. The miners by a seventy per cent, vote favour a continuance of the strike. A feature of the voting was the immense numbers of abstentions apparently due to the disgust at the way negotiatipns had been handled, the absence of any advice from the leaders how to vote and the desire to show other parties to the Triple Alliance that the miners are able to win alone. There were overwhelming majorities against a settlement in South Wales, Scotland, Durham, Lancashire, Cheshire and Staffordshire, but returns from Yorkshire and Nottingham where it is believed the men favour a return to work have not yet been received. SIXTY-FOUR PER CENT. OF MINERS VOTE. LONDON, June 19. (Received June 19, 5.5 p.m.) Only 64 per cent, of the miners voted. The miners’ executive will consider the situation to-night. MINERS’ EXECUTIVE IN DILEMMA. LONDON, June 18. The coal miners’ ballot has placed the miners’ executive in a dilemma. They expected an adverse vote, but not the twothird majority required for a continuance of the strike. They refrained from giving the men a lead, desiring to throw upon the rank and file the responsibility of terminating the strike after the failure to secure a national pool. The solidarity of the Federation is endangered as many of the miners intend to resume work. The executive has notified the Government and the coalowners that the stoppage continues. TALK OF GENERAL STRIKE ACTION. LONDON, June 18. (Received June t2O, 12.10 a.m.) Mr Lloyd George, acknowledging Mr Hodge’s letter announcing the rejection of the terms and the continuance of the strike said that he regretted the miners’ decision and gave notice of the termination of the ten million offer. On Sunday the miners’ executive decided to request the executives of the various trade unions affected by the wages dispute to confer with a view to taking national strike action. Many miners in Notts, Warwickshire and North Wales have decided to ignore the result of the ballot and to resume work.