INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 78, 28 March 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

THE ENGLISH COAL STRIKE

(By Electric Telegraph.--Copyright.) (United Press Association.}

Loudon, March 27. The Strike Bill lias passed its third reading. There is profound disappointment at the failure of the conference, and serious misgivings are expre.ji’l in South Wales. It is possible that efforts may be made to re-open the pits, but it is feared that there will be a change in the peaceful behaviour that has hitherto characterised the strike.

The coal owners complain that the Government invited them to Downing Street and suddenly faced them with the miners’ representatives.

The conference lasted five minutes, and terminated by a member of U'c Government protecting Mr Smillic and suddenly resurrecting the demand for 5s 9d and 3s for Scotch miners. The mine owners immediately withdrew, several saying, “It’s disgusting.”

Smillie states that 5s 9d and 3; have been the Scottish demand throughout. The Daily News states that the Go vernment intends to constitute a Na tional Wages Board with an independent chairman to consider 5s and 2s upon the understanding that the miners will return to work if the point is settled. The Miners’ Federation will con side}- the proposal to-day. The Birmingham Post states that Lord Loreburn and Viscount Morley. at Friday’s Cabinet meeting, strongly opposed the insertion of 5s and 2s which several Cabinet Ministers ap proved finally. Mr Lloyd George and Mr Sidney Buxton alone persisted, and only yielded when six colleagues definitely stated that they would retire if the figures were included. Answering Mr Dalziel, Mr Isaacs promised not to oppose the bailing out of Tom Mann if he promised no to repeat his statements pending hi: trial. One hundred strikers marched tChirk and refused to allow the even ing shift to descend. The police es corted the day workers home. Mr Craig, a mine owner, aged 85. addressed the strikers and success fully pleaded with them to refrain from rioting demonstrations at Can nockchase, Doncaster, against the col liers who were repairing the pits. Traffic receipts on the railways have declined £1,500,000 in three weeks. The Morning .Leader states that ii. a few days the Government will probably be depending on the Tories fo: remaining in office, and it was diffi .cult to see 'howj.it would then bo abb to carry Horae Rule and disestablishment. It was expected that , tin year’s surplus would exceed £4,000,000, but Mr Mastcrman said in tin House of Commons that the strik: had substantially influenced the rove nue and might completely change the Budget.

One hundred thousand workers on! of a population of a quarter of a mil lion in five towns in the potteries district are receiving free meals daih chiefly through the agency of tin Churches and Mayors’ relief funds. Thousands are gathering in the halls and schools and .securing bread, scones, butter, and soup. Special arrangements have been made for sup plying infants with milk.

Crowds of half-starved children from other districts are flocking to the soup kitchens.

A constable at Middleboro saw a man steal a loaf of bread. When captured, he said, “Please > I am starving, and so is the missus. Come and see.” The constable went to the house and discovered the wife cooking a small dog. The Government are taking measures for the relief of the distress.

The War Office is expected to call out the reserves to protect miners willing to work. The strike pay in Northumberland has been reduced by one-half. The South Wales miners will receive their last instalment this week, and the Lancashire men next week. Durham, Derbyshire, and Nottingham will be able to pay full allowances for a month longer. THIRD READING DEBATE. (Received 28, 8.5 a.m.) London, March 27. Four thousand miners are back at work. The Government hopes the passage of the Bill will afford an excuse for miners to return. The leaders favour the men accepting the Bill to the extent of assisting to form district boards and endeavouring to secure satisfactory minima; but it is probable that orders will be issued against returning to pits until wages are fixed. Mr Asquith warned the miners of the heavy responsibility if they persisted in the strike when the Bill was passed. The Government had gone beyond precedent in asking Parliament to accept the principle of the minimum.

Mr Bonar Law said the whole resources of the country must protect the men desiring to work.

Mr Brace’s amendment at the report stage re-introducing the live shillings and two shillings was rejected by 326 to 83. The Nationalist ahtained and forty-three Liberals supported the Labourites, including Messrs Dalziel, Atherley, Jones, Sylvester and Horne. Mr Harvey stated that over a hundred thousand men working underground did not get five shillings.

The Government’s amendment was passed by 265 votes to 135, instructig district boards to have regard to

the average daily rate of wages now paid to miners. The Labour Party moved an amendment that the rate fixed should never be less than the average daily rate was rejected by 271 to 101. Mr MacDonald said the third reading of the Bill was simply making fools of the men to try to use the Bill, but nobody should imagine that the strike had been declared off. Mr Lloyd-Goorgo said Mr MacDonald’s language was deplorable. The Bill embodied the miners’ very words at the ballot in favour of a strike. They had not given up the schedule, but the principle of the minimum. It was a gigantic advance for Labour. It was not upright or laracqueous for the. Labour Party to destroy the Bill. The effect would be to plunge the people into even greater misery. The Bill was read a third time by 213 to 48, the Labourites opposing, and the majority of Unionists 'abstaining. Mr Asquith was warmly cheered on leaving the House.

THE MINERS DETERMINED,

(Received 28, 9.55 a.m.) London, March 27

The ballot asks whether the minors will resume pending the district boards’ settlement of the minimum for various grades. Mr McDonald, interviewed, advises the strikers to accept the Bill and proceed to establish joint boards and get an early decision on such of the simple points as 5s per day for workers. ' If the decisions are satisfactory it should be regarded as an indication of what other decisions are likely to be and work be resumed immediately. As an alternative, ho recommended the ballot.

Mr Hartshorn, interviewed, said the strike was only commencing. He anticipates that with the Labour Commoners’ assistance at mass meetings throughout the country to organise a dogged resistance, then it would be seen who could hold out longest, the miners or the nation.

Mr Stanton, interviewed, said that in view of the solidarity of labour, the miners could, within a week, by a Stoppage of railways and other transport, bring the Government to its knees, begging them to resume on the terms now declared impossible. Notwithstanding the 'above opinions, outside the conference, the leaders’ recommendation of a ballot is interpreted as designed to shelve the responsibility for future action on tire miners.

(Received 28, 10.45 a.m.) London, March 27

The mine owners meeting has accepted the Minimum Bill. Ballot papers for miners do not recommend how the .men are to vote. Results will be known next Wednesday. Mr McKenna, in the House of Commons, Isaidj the Government would afford adequate protection where owners were |willing to reopen their mines, and miners will work.

RIDICULOUS PRESUMPTION

(Received 28, 10 a.m.) London, March 27

The “Times”, commenting on Mr Lloyd-George’s retaliation on Mr MacDonald, described Mr MacDonald as amusing with' his air 1 of patron towards the miners and schoolmaster towards the Government and owners. Mr MacDonald Avas becoming ridiculous in his attempts to conceal his lack of influence on the real laboui* ment. by assuming airs of importance.

BALLOT ON RESUMPTION

(Received 28, 8.5 a.m.) London, March 27

The Miners’ Federation has decided to hold a ballot on the question of resumption.

THE AFTERNOON SHIFT

NeAvcastle, March 27

The Conciliation Committee has commenced the consideration of the afternoon shift question. The men contended that Avorking till midnight led to physical Avreckage, inconvenience in the domestic circle, prevented their enjoyment of the rights of citizenship, and increased the danger of accidents. . The proprietors replied, dAvelling on the commercial aspect, and said that the result Avould be a serious diminution in the output, which Avould affect contracts and Avould ca\ise many men to be throAvn OAit of employment.

THE PLASTERERS’ DISPUTE.

Wellington, March 27

Tho plasterers’ dispute was before the Conciliation Council to-day, and as a result of the conference a full settlement was reached. A week’s work has been fixed at 45 hours, and a definition of the term “work” has been agreed upon. In the case of suburban work, payment for travelling time is recommended in addition to the faro. Preference to unionists is conceded, and the Council recommends that this agreement should expire at the same time as the carpenters award, with a view of obtaining, if possible, a 44-hour week in the building trade. THE LABOUR PROBLEM. Christchurch, March 27. The quarterly meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce discussed the question of industrial unrest, and arrived at the following resolution : “That this Chamber thank: the Auckland Chamber of Commerce for its action in ventilating tho subject of industrial unrest, and recognises that the problem involved is tho most urgent before the people of New Zealand, and endorses the suggestion of tho Auckland Chamber that the Government be asked to appoint a Royal Commission consisting of commercial men and labour leader?.”

| The President, Hon. H. F. Wigram, moved the first portion of the resolution, and said that personally he was not satisfied that a Royal Commission would do much good. He had great hopes that a public opinion might be evoked which would strongly discount tenance the strike form of industrial warfare, and held these hopes in regard to New Zealand particularly, because he believed that there existed in the Dominion a better feeling between employers and employees than in any other part of the world. If both sides could be brought to share the opinion that the strike is a barbarous method and an anachronism, inconsistent with our free institutions, a way would be opened for the consideration of other means of settling industrial disputes. Other speakers considered that a Royal Commission would give an opportunity to Labour to represent its side of the question, and- the motion , was' agreed to, with the additional endorsing suggestion that a Royal Commission bo set up.