INDUSTRIAL CRISIS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16841, 13 September 1920, Page 3

INDUSTRIAL CRISIS.

COAL STRIKE WILL COME. UNLESS DEMANDS ARE ABATED. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. LONDON, Sept. 11. Sir Robert Horne (President of the Board of Trade) interviewed, declared a strike was inevitable if the minors refused to abate their demands, winch were unjust. Tho Government was menaced by an industrial .strike lor political reasons. , . Tho Trade Union Congress has closed. Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P. (general secretary of tho National Union ot Eailwaymen), was head of the list- m tho election of tho Parliamentary Committee, whilst it is significant that Mr. R. Smillie (President of the Miners • Federation), who was not a member or the old committee, was elected by a big vote. . Mr. Thomas, in his closing speech, emphasised the need for trade union unity in view of the difficulties of the next few weeks. They must not alien prejudice or bias to influence their decisions. They were not enemies of their country; they loved their country, but the country could not be made great and happy by bloodshed on tne battlefield. That was best attained by giving comfort to cottage homes. Dining the next few weeks every word and action should be fought out. \\ bind they were equally determined to do justice to their own class, they were equally determined to keep m mind the interests of the whole community. Reuter Service. FOOD SUPPLY SECURED. LONDON, Sept. 12. Mr. C. A. M‘Curdy (tho Food Con troller) says that while a strike m a greqt key industry like coal mining must lead to hardship, he was satisfied that, given the loyal co-onoration of the community, and a general determination to maintain civil oruer, the arrangements made will secure the country adequate, it restricted, supplies of food. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TRUTH RAISES A STORM. LONDON, Sept. 11. The Labour newspaper Democrat, edited by Mr. Applevou pi the General Federation of Trade onions) states it is not fair lor Mr. Thomas to say that the trusts and combinations of capital formed in selfdefence should not exist to the prejudice of the public, when vast combinations of Labour, originally foimea for self-defence, are rapidly becoming predatory bodies, making life impossible for the rest of us. The paper adds: It is only necessary to notice the number of stnues and tho number of would-be producers who are unable to produce, because those immediately in front or behind them have ceased, to work. Labour itself has become a very serious menace to those sections of the workers would work if given a chance. Ais only necessary to listen to tho wild talk going on—the threats of revolution and socialia ition and threats ot anything and everything except settling down to work and letting other people work—to realise who has really stood in the way of production at this critical time. 1 Mr. Bromley (secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers) and Mr. IVtilUiams (general secretary of the Transport Workers' Federation) _ and other delegates a ttbe Trades Union Congress attacked Mr. Appleton, accusing 'him of scurrilous abuse ot tho wage movement, and persistent attacks on the triple alliance, and file vCmcftion of Mr. Snnllic.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' MANY MINERS HESITATE. LONDON, Sept. 12. Tho News of thw World and Sunday Times urge tho summoninfg of Parliament in view of the coal crisis. The miners’ strike notices have been sent in, but a substantial percentage in the Bhymneg Yallc-y- withheld theira., while considerable hesitation and indifference is shown in Yorkshire and parts of Northumberland. Hopes are now centred in the miners’ executive meeting in London on Tuesday. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ATTEMPT TO EMBROIL CANADA. ' OTTAWA, Sept. 12. According to a message from Calgary the One Big Union Convention received a cablegram from Mr. Robert Smillie - ' demanding simultaneous action with the Ehglish miners to bring about a general strike on September 28. The convention will appoint a committee to consider the matter. Both the Alberta find Nova Scotia miners have been advised regarding Mr SmiTlio’s message.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, LONDON ELECTRICAL TRADE. LOCK-OUT AND STRIKE. _,ONDON, Sept. ID. The Electrical Trades Union has given a week f s notice of a strike in sympathy with the workers,locked out by the Engineering Employers’ Federation over a dispute respecting employment of non-union foremen. Tho London strike will affect 25,000 workers, and stop trams, tubes, and all electrical works.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. LONDON. Sept. 12. The Electrical Trades Union has asked ■ the Labour councillors of London to urge the Minister of Transport to bring pressure to bear on tho Engineering Employers’ Federation. Several engineering firms in London decline to carry out tho Federation’s instructions to lock-out the employees. A section of tho Joint Industrial Council in London communicated with Dr. M‘Namara (Minister of Labour), a resolution denouncing the Federation’s attitude.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.