COAL STRIKE BEGINS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 3 May 1926, Page 9

COAL STRIKE BEGINS

Miners Reject Owners’ Proposals MILLIONS OF WORKERS INVOLVED. general strhce favoured to support miners. The Goal Conference failed and negotiations ceased at ones, the miners replying to the owners’ proposals by calling a strike. The question of hours was the reck o?i! which the conference: was wrecked, the- miners claiming that eight hours work daily was- against the law and opposed to the spirit of the Commission’s report. The Trade Union Congress had decided in favour of a general strike and the Government immediately brought tho Emergency Act into operation, and a nation-wide organisation is already swinging into activity to maintain essential services. The outlook is extremely grave. The Labour leaders place the blame on OVIr Baldwin. Both sides are wellprepared for a prolonged struggle.

CONFERENCE FAILS AMD STRIKE BEGINS. OWNERS BLAMED FOR UPHEAVAL. By Cable —Press Association-—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received May 2, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 1. THE COAL CONFERENCE FAILED. .- The coal strike lias • begun. In rejecting the owner’s offer, the miners said they regretted that though the Coal Commission’s report was Issued oil March <i, the owners only submitted their proposals as late as April 30, at 1.15 in the afternoon, when two-thirds of tho mine workers were already locked out. The miners added that seven hours’ daily work was sufficient in which to supply all coal for 'which a market could be found. It was also as long m a man should pursue a dangerous and arduous calling. TRADES CONGRESS FAVOURS GENERAL STRIKE.

KING PROCLAIMS STATE OF NATIONAL- EMERGENCY. J?y Cable —Press Association-—Copyright:, - Australian end N.Z. Cable Association. (Received May 2, 5.5 p.m.) ’London, May: 1. The Trade Union Conference declared in favour of a- general strike at midnight on Monday.,. 1 The Conference intends to make, volunteer arrangements (o iced the people. Following this decision Hie King proclaimed that a state of emergency exists. The whole Trade Union movement is behind flic minors, who threaten to fall a general strike to their support, thus affecting live million workers, in addition to over a million miners, hut it is considered possible that this weapon will be withheld a( present, and will only operate gradually if the coal stoppage is prolonged.

BEFORE THE BREACH. GOVERNMENT'S Ft I 'FORTS AT MEDIATION. MINERS REFUSE ALL OFFERS. By Cfibltt—Proa a Asboc inti on—-Copyright. Routcir's Telegrams. (Received May 2, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, .May 1. The, coal .situation wa.s critical all day long. Mr Baldwin asked the miners to be at his rooms at the House- oi Commons at 10.30 in the morning. They were .still awaiting him-there at noon, lie being still engaged at Dpwning. Street negotiating with the Coal Owners', Committee, whose revised oiler is understood to be based on an eight hours' day at a slight-lv reduced wage. Big faceting of Unionists, ere was meanwhile a liurriedij convened meeting of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress, intensified h.v the expectancy of dramatic developments. The meeting lasted lor an hour, and subsequently fifteen hundred delegates to the conference of 'affiliated unions' aftsoml led, awaiting the outcome of the conversations betv ceil Mr Baldwin and I lie miners at the Mouse of Commons.

Gpvorrunont's Generous Offers. The Government, 'in conveying tins offer to the Trades Unionists, guaranteed the carrying out of the .Royal Commission's reorganisation proposal. 1 The. Trade Unionists replied expressing'- their’ -willingness to • cooperate,. with the Government in instituting suclf organisation, declaring that until the reorganisation brought, the 'industry greater prosperity, the miners .should not be called upon to surrender any ol thenpresent. iitade.cpuit.e......wages or conditions. The~ ' Government then inquired whether if the owners suspended the notices, the- miners-would ■•accept the recommendations of the Royal Commission that- while .' .reorganisation should proceed, . the miners should consent to a reduction of wages. Miners Reject Offers. In the .meantime the miners replied that they were- not prepared to accept a reduction of wages as a preliminary -to the reorganisation of the industry, but were prepared fully to consider all the difficulties ol the industry, ..-when the Government initiated- its schemes .for reorganisation.

Fjna.l. Failure. The Government finally, offered, if the miners accepted the report of the Royal Commission, including wages l-ceommendntioiis, to establish an Advisory. Committee, otu-wliielP the miners and owners would be -represented, to-advise --the SI mister of SJ.ines, as to the reorganisation of the industry, Tho miners’ leader, in his reply, made it clear that he would not accept any reduction of wages, so tjic negotiations terminated at J"1 ..‘lO. Realisation of Gravity of Outlook. 'The King arrived from "Windsor and attended the Privy Council at Buckingham Palace. At a demonstration of women unionists at Albert Hall, Sir Austen Chamberlain delivered a speech ( n the loreign and coal situations. The meeting closed with the audience standing in silent prayer for .several minutes, and the organ played the National Anthem.

It was expected, a .statement would be. .made in the House of Commons, at 4 o'ciock this afternoon, but thp House . adjourned without a statement being made, Afr Baldwin having left the miners considering the owners' proposals. General Strike Feared. Tin- belief that a general strike was inevitable was strengthened 'when if was unoirieially a.ti pou need that the miners had rejected the revised oiler, and it was learned that a .special Cabinet' meeiing was summoned late in the alternooii, while arrangement,s "ere being -made-do, bring tbe whole of the mineis’ delegates and the executives of two" "hundred unions ahiiinlrd with the Trades Union Congress together. Reason for BreaEuiown. Negotin L ions broke down because the miners iimilly refused to accept be. reduced wage at the 1!)21 rate, belore the reorganisation of tbe industry.

ALL PARTIES WELL PREPARED. GOVERXMKXT S EMERGENCY PLANS IN OPERATION. By fjil'lp—Press Association —Copyright, Australian ana N.Z. Cahla Association. .LONDON, May I. Never has a. strike occurred when all parties were so prepared lor all eventualities. 'I lie Government plans are cut and dried, and arc beginning to operate.

Tbe owners offered a uniform national minimum of 20 per cent, over the- standard, namely (be same, percentage as in 1021. The .settlement oiler was made on (lie basis of all eight hour day, because opinion is held that in view ol the pope state of Hie exporting districts, it would otherwise he impossible 'to'olfer. aii aeeepia.ble uuilorm national minimum.

Tlio country has been divided into Lou ureas, each controlled by a civil commissioner, who has drastic powers to make decisions concerning food supplies, transport, coal distribution, and post office communications. Ga.s, electricity, and railway companies have boon storing coal lor months past. It is estimated they possess several months’ supply. There arc also 10,000,000 to 12,000,000 tons of coal lying at the, pits’ mouth, or in course of transit. A census of commercial vehicles show over 200,000 at the Government',s disposal. Miners’ War Chests. The “Daily Express” says the total war chest of tin- Miners’ Federation does not exceed £4,000,000, but credit can be obtained through other unions. Troops on the Move. The Government, as a precautionary measure, moved detachments of troops into South Wales, .Lancashire, and Scotland. READY FOR EMERGENCY.

NATIONAL OR G A XIS A T.ION S ARRANGED. PREPARATIONS FOR GENERAL STRI KE. By Cable—Press Association —Copyright. Pouter's Telegrams. (Received May 2, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 1. The Ministry of Health lni.s circularised all local authorities stating that in the event of a national coal stoppage the Government consider it necessary that part of the organisation already arranged to eopc with an emergency should be set in readiness Lo operate. Accordingly the Ministry transmits a list of civil commissioners and divisional stall's, which will be established on the issue of a proclamation under the Emergency Powers Acts, should the Government deem such proclamation necessary in national interests. The circular adds: “If the stoppage is confined to the coal industry, it is hoped it will not he necessary to expand these emergency organisations extensively, or call on recruits to assist in maintaining essential services, but in the event of a stoppage of other industries, affecting such services, it is hoped that local authorities will co-operate to the lullest with volunteer service committees.”

“WE DID NOT DECLARE WAR.” BLAME CAST ON THE GOVERNMENT. LABOUR LEADER’S OUTBURST. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright ouslrcli.n nnd A'.Z. Cable Association. (Received May 2, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 1. A memorandum issued by the Trade Union Congress, says: The trades involved in the strike call include all forms of transport, printing trades including the press, iron, steel, chemicals and buildingworks, except those employed on housing or hospital work, electricity and gas, but sanitary services will be continued. There will be no interferetice with health and food services. The memorandum prescribes regulations for trade union discipline, and declares that any one found inciting the workers to riot, must be dealt with immediately. The chairman of the Trades Union Conference said the trade unionists fully supporting the Council’s policy numbered 3,053,527, and those who negatived the policy numbered 49,911. Mr Eeaven expressed the Council's appreciation of the proposals for action, which were not submitted until the Emergency Powers Act was signed.

“We did not declare...Avar on the community,’’ said Mr Be van", “war was declared by..the Government. Wc are selecting certain vital trades to bear the first brunt of the contest. There must lie no argument as to who shall remain in and who shall come out. You must take and obey or dei-s. Aliy members told to operate in voluntary services must not. he interfered with.’’

Air Ramsay MacDonald said the Government had decided to fight the people's standard of. living. He believed that they would have got peace lust evening-. The decision of tile Government to break off negotiations was a crime against society. It was an unnecessary, wicked and criminal fight. The whole Question would lie raised in the House of Commons on Monday. They were standing by the miners, but still hoping that something would happen before then to enable the workers to continue at. work.

NEGOTIATIONS MAY RESUME. TRADE UNION CONGRESS ACTS FOR MINERS. By Cable —Press Association—Copyright Reuter's Tele-rains LONDON, May 2. There is a possibility of an important development in the crisis. Last evening, on the invitation of the Prime -Minister, the Trade Union Congress Negotiating Committee lengthily conferred with Mr Baldwin and members of the Cabinet. It is understood that during the course of a meeting of the Trade Union Congress, the representatives stated that if the resumption of negotiations was immediate, there .was a prospect that when the general strike was due to begin at midnight on Monday the threat would not be carried out. The Congress representatives are understood to contend that owing to the lateness ni" (lie hour at. which the owners' oiler was presented to them on Friday evening (here was no time for real negotiations.

VIEWPOINT OF BOTH SIDES. GOVERNMENT ACCUSED OF BLUNDERING. By Cablo —Brass Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received May 2, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 1. The Trades Union delegates, after hearing Mr .1. 11. Thomas and other speakers, adjourned in the early morning, until noon. Mr Thomas, who was pale and tired, dramatically declared that never had a Government made such a blunder. He stressed the fact that the first definite concrete national proposal was only submitted yesterday afternoon, though it was nearly eight months since the Coal Commission was constituted. MR BALDWIN’S REGRETS. It is reported that Mr Baldwin yesterday said: “I am quite sure if we fail to agree, we shall all be heavily blamed by the country. There are times when a movement of this kind is favoured, but I do not believe such feeling exists to-day. Tiie hope that all would emerge from the struggle with credit is gone, and we perhaps arc a bit ashamed of ourselves.” OFFICIAL MEMORANDUM AND REPLY. CONFERENCE WRECKED ON HOURS QUESTION. By Cable—Frees Association —Copvrlsnt. Australian and N.Z. Cabin Association (Received May 2, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 1. The correspondence between the Prime. Minister and the miners yesterday shows that in submitting the ownei's’ offer, Dll' Baldwin reiterated the promise made the previous day that the existing- seven day would remain on the statute book, and that only temporary legislation would be used to provide additional hours', and the Government would establish a commission not later than December 31, 19 29, to advise whether, as the result of reorganisation or better trade, or both, the conditions of the coal industry had improved to such an extent as justify a revision to seven hours. The miners, in the course of their reply, pointed out that the proposal to increase the hours was contrary to the finding of the Commission.

WORK CEASES ON COALFIELDS. GOVERNMENT ASSUME CONTROL OF ALL COAL. EMBARGO ON COAL HANDLING. By 'Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received May 2, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 1. The conference of executives of the unions affiliated with the Trade. Union Congress met in London secretly, to discuss the policy to be adopted in support of the miners. The resolution submitted provides lor an embargo on handling coal, especially imported, at the docks; - it does not contemplate a general strike at this stage. The delegates believed that, negotiations will be reopened. ' The miners delegates previously sat and decided to leave the conduct of matters in the hands of the Council of the Trade Union Congress. Reports from the coal fields indicate that there is a “ general cessation of work. Everything is orderly. The miners are gloomy but . determined.

• odors have been received at the South Wales ports that the export of coal has been suspended. Coal ships which had already sailed, were ordered by wireless to return. This is an indication that all the coal in the country is under Government control. The Trade Unions offer to maintain the distribution of essential foodstuffs.

“ KEEP STEADY.” MR BALDWIN’S APPEAL TO THE NATION. ANNOUNCEMENTS BY WIRELESS By Cable—Press Assoriation—-Copyright. Reuter’s Telegrams. LONDON, May 2. , ‘‘Keep steady; remember that peace on earth comes to men of goodwill,” was the message Mr Baldwin broadcasted to the nation last evening. The Prime Minister’s use of this medium of communication is interesting, in view of the reported intention of the Government to commandeer the British BroadcastingCompany, in the event of the closing down of the Press. Referring to this suggested possibility an official statement, was issued at the close, of a long sitting of the Trade Union Congress during the afternoon, which says: “The General Council of the Congress is arranging direct communication with the offices of the Trade Unions to which all authoritative, reports and announcements will lie made direct, and warm; trade union- ; !o. lake no notice of any statement that may ... nroadi a.ised wirelessly or circulated in any other to V 111.”

NEGOTIATIONS AGAIN ADJOURNED. LABOUR LEADERS RETICENT. Bv Cable—Press Association — Copyright. Router's Telegrams. (Received May 2, 11.35 p.m.) LONDON, May 2. The meeting of the Prime Minister and the members of the Trade Unions adjourned at 1.30 this morning after live hours’ sitting. Mr J. 11. Thomas, in an official announcement to the Press, did not reveal the subject matter of tho discussions, but said the matter had been adjourned, and he hoped for further negotiations to-day. RESTRICTED SUPPLIES. The Deputy Chief Civil Commissioner has issued restrictions on supplies ol coal to private houses and industrial businesses; also prohibition of the use of lights for display and advertisement, and enjoining the strictest economy in gas and electricity. Contravention of these directions is punishable by imprisonment or a fine.

APPEAL TO COMMONSENKE. ' Sir William .Toynson Hicks (Home Secretary), responding- to the toast, of “The Ministry.” at the Academy banquet, appealed to the commonsense and humanity of the people not ic engage in internecine strife, but if there was to be an economic dispute, he hoped" it would noi widen its borders to a political dispute. The Government would carry out, with unit inching determination, its obligations, to preserve the life of the people and law and order.