THE COAL STRIKE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10417, 22 March 1912, Page 2

THE COAL STRIKE.

THE MINIMUM WAGE BILL

MR BALFOUR'S MOTION FOR REJECTION. United Press Association—By Electrio

Telegraph—Copyright. (Received March 22, 8.5 a.m.)

LONDON, March 21

Tho "Daily News" states that Mr Balfour's motion radically changes the situation, and takes the decision out of the Government's, coal-owners' and the miners' hands. The Opposition controls tho House of Lords, and the Bill may dio. The " Daily Mail " says that the Federation wrecked the Bill. Tho Government expects defeat, and it is not improbable that it is willing to escape the enormous difficulties its blunders and weakness produced. Tho Premier's position is embarrassed by his declaration when introducing the Bill that it was neither right, fair nor commonsense to embody a schedule.

Tho leaders of tho Miners' Federation claim that they have power to turn out sixty-six Radicals, including "seven members of tho Cabinet. STRIKE PAY.

The strike pay issued to miners up to March 2.3 will bo £578,000 pounds, and to other unions £240,000.

PICKETS AND POLICE

At Kirconnol a>its, 600 pickets, who were endeavouring to prevent 100 nonunionists from working, overpowered tho police with sticks and stones. The police wero reinforced, and restored order. Several policemen and strikers were injured. Ten strikers were arrested. WIDESPREAD DISTRESS. PATHETIC-SCENES. STRIKE PAY REDUCED. Chapels and churches aro opening soup kitchens. There are pathetic scenes afc Middlesborough, hundreds of men and women besieging tho Town ITall to register their names for groceries and fuel provided from the Mayor's fund. Strike pay at Cannockchaso has been redxiced to ss. Many non-unionists at Cannockohase are prepared to return, but the owners do not favour a partial return, fearing trouble.

THE SECOND READING

MR BALFOUR'S SPEECH.

There was a full House when the Premier formally moved the second reading of the Bill.

Sir Balfour, who received an ovation, moved its rejection at Mr Bonar Law's request. He said that tho strike was the first formidable display of a policy which, if allowed, would he destructive to society. No American trust ever misused its powers of paralysing trade like the leaders of tho miners. The Premier never mentioned tho notorious fact of tho agreements between the men and the Scotch and Welsh owners, one of which Mr Churchill countersigned on behalf of the Board of The Government was trying to pass a colossal revolution in forty-eight hours. If tho Government were defeated there could be no dissolution because it was impossible to add tho confusion of a general election to the horrors of the strike. Tho Opposition intended to vote against the Bill. If the Government were defeated it was prepared to take up the responsibility. THE PREMIER'S REPLY. Tho Premier replied that Mr Balfour's speech was worthy of a critical occasion, but he propounded only barren negotiations in its place. Tho Bill was only preliminary to further steps which might be necessary, which God forbid!