LABOUR.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16884, 4 August 1919, Page 7

LABOUR.

THE COAL TROUBLE. . NOT ENDED *JN.. YORKSHIRE ' By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. ■Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.

Received 5.5 p.m., August 3rd. LONDON, July 31. At the Coal Conference- General Sir Herbert Smith, Director of Artillery, declined to recognise the right of the Miners' Federation to negotiate with the Government on behalf of Yorkshire. He invited the mine owners' to negotiate independently of the Government formula. The owners replied that this was impossible, as they were bouud by the Coal Controller's decision. General Smith's alternative proposal was equivalent to the elimination ,cf piece work, as wages would be the same whatever the output.

The deadlock in connection with the Yorkshire dispute has dismayed the public, who were led to believe that the parties had only come together to arrive at a speedy settlement on the lines of the Government agreement. The Miners' Federation lias now found that when.-tha Government's fomula is applied to Yorkshire it- represents an advance of 11.8, whereas the Yorkshire miners are determined to secure the maximum percentage, 14.2. The miners' alternative is that each miner should be recouped for any loss.- This would advance wages from. 5 to 25 per cent.

SURFACEMEN'S DEMANDS.

..Apart from Yorkshire a serious situation has arisen at all mines owing to the surfacemen demanding an increase under threat of an immediate strike. , Meanwhile the woollen manufacturers are exhausting their last reserves of coal. Eifty thousand men are already out of work in Yorkshire., apart from ininers. "It is estimated that the difference between 11.8 and 14.2 means 100s annually per man, or a million pounds a year for the Yorkshire coalfields. There are thirty thousand unemployed at Bradford. Some firms ai-e keeping their works going with coal costing 455, which before the war cost 10s, including carting.

HOPES OF A SETTLEMENT. The War Cabinet "considered the miners'. deadlock. Sir R. Home, Minister of Labour, later received a miners' deputation. The developments revive hopes of a settlement.

Tlie Minister discussed the situation with the deputation, and made satisfactory progress towards a settlement. The Mines' Association agreed, to confer with the owners. SUDDEN POLICE STPUvE A. GE-NTCRAI. FAILURE: The, lying's departure from the opera was the signal for a police strike. The majority of the police were surprised when mysterious individuals pushed papers into their hands orderiug an immediate strike. The individuals hurried on' without expressing any order. General' Macready. Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, states that only 250 police have thus far i-efused duty. They were immediately dismissed and will never be reinstated.

on'!y 550. of the Metropolitan Police have struck. The situation in the city is normal. The strike at the West End was a failure.

.In the-Commons, Mr Shontt said that the police sfcr'lke in the provinces was a complete failure, except afc Liverpool, where 300 out of 1700 failed to report. ;Tbe House of Commons read a third time the Police Bill, which establishes an-authorised Police Federation to promote the welfare of the police, prohibiting membership of any trade union, forbidding the Federation to form an association" with any outside organisation, and imposing penalties on persons attempting to disaffect the police. AUSTRALIAN SEAMEN. A DEADLOCK. Received 5.5 p.m., August 3rd. •SYDNEY, Aug. 3. There are no fresh developments in the shipping strike. • Union circles believe thalb an absolute deadlock has been reached. The men are prepared for a six months' struggle. Walsh's release is now a vital issne. Walsh is hungerstriking. UNREST IN ENGLAND. MR CHURCHILL'S WARNING. LONDON, July 30. Mr Winston Churchill, in the House of" Commons, speaking with reference to the Trplle Alliance's ballot, added that the War Office circular relating to strikes was not political, and was now out of date, and finally all conscientious objectors would be released. He solemnly warned agitators that they must hasten a general strike, otherwise it would be necessary for them to get a new outfit of grievances.. "Its four grievances *re obsolete, because withdrawal from Russia has long been decided on, and conscription is passing away."

WALSH NOT TO BE RELEASED. MELBOURNE, August 2. In-the House of Representatives, Mr L. E. Groom stated that the Government had definitely decided not to release Walsh before the expiry of his sentence. He added that communications had been received' indicating the attitude taken by the seamen in the various States, and these would be immediately considered with a view to reconsidering the position of the Ministry.

DISCUSSION AT. MINES CONFERENCE; PAYMENT FOR HOLIDAY. (Per Presa Association}. WELLINGTON, July 2, The payment of miners for the one dav Peace holiday was discussed at the Mines Conference to-day. Mr Arbuckle said that some mines paid for two days, others one, which was niggardly. Others had not even honoured the'decision for one day's pay. Ho had received a telegram that work had been stopped at Denniston as a protest. From Blackball he had also received a message inquiring why payment had not been made.

Mr Flavell ("Westport Company) said it had been agreed to pay for one day, and if. any had not received their pay it must have been due to misunderstanding. Saturday, being pay day, was a holiday, but owners were paying for Mondav as a gift, not as a right. Mr "Watson (Blackball) and Mr Holgate (Xiripaka) said that the misunderstanding was unfortunate. Mr Arbuckle said that the pay for one da-i- was not satisfactory. Mr O'Brien said that one mine had been stopped .owing to the owners' action. Such misunderstandings led to serious trouble and often a strike was the only method of rectifying such misunderstandings. The discussion was dropped, on the understanding that the secretaries should be notified that nil men must he paid. .