THE COAL STRIKE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10418, 23 March 1912, Page 6

THE COAL STRIKE.

RELIEF MEASURES. MANY THOUSANDS FED FREE. THE MINIMUM WAGE BILL. SPEECH BY LORD HALDANE. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received March 23, 8.5 a.m.) LONDON, March 22. The schools are feeding thousands of children daily in the pottery districts and 12,000 are fed daily in Leeds, where vigorous relief measures have been organised. Lord Halrlano at the Fishmongers' dinner said that the Government, would proceed, looking neither to the right nor to the left of what tho Bill defines. It had no power to make the miners resume, but if any desired to work, the Government would secure their liberty. THE SCHEDULES.

Colonel Sir Ivor Herbert, member for Monmouth and a coal owner, has given notice in the House of Commons of an amendment to insert 5s and 2s oti men and hoys respectively. It is reported that the miners arc willing to leave the schedules to the District Boards if Sir Ivor Herbert's minima are included in the Bill. A Labour leader advises the miners to accept the Bill and to resume, pending the settlement of the schedules by the District Committees. He asserts that when the miners have- secured a minimum other trades will insist on similar concessions.

Inflammatory socialistic leaflets have been circulated amongst the Yorkshire miners warning them against betrayal through the acceptance of a meaningless minimum principle. The " Times" states that the Cabinet has refused to accept any of the miners' amendments, and some Liberal papers anticipate the acceptance of Sir Ivor Herbert's. MINERS RETURNING TO WORK. FUNDS GIVING OUT. SHIPPING LAID UP. 2,000,000 WORKERS IDLE. £5,000,000 LOST IN WAGES. 40,000 MEALS SERVED. . DISTRESS ACUTE. (Received March 23, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, March 22. The miners in North Wales aro arranging to return to work on Monday. There are indications that many colliers will leave the Federation owing to the early exhaustion of the funds. There are 100,000 tons of shipping tlfat have been rendered idle at Southampton, and twenty-eight steamers and eighty-six trawlers are laid up at Hull. There are 2,000,000 workers, including miners, idle, and the miners have lost £5,000,000 in wages, not one-eighth of which has been returned in strike

The vicar of Burslem has served 40,000 meals, and the relief in many places is inadequate. The Government is considering measures for increasing the Guardians' power. The distress at Cardiff, Swansea, Nottinghamshire, Hartlepoole and in Scotland is growing acute. SIR IVOR HERBERT'S AMENDMENT NEGATIVED. (Received March 23, 12.30 p.m.) Sir Ivor Herbert's amendment was negatived without a division. The Premier was disposed to think that 2s and os were reasonable, considering the unique difficulties of mining. He believed that the District Boards would adopt these figures, but it was most undesirable to insert particular figures. Parliament was not equipped with information on which to form a judgment, and moreover it would be treated as a precedent. Mr Enoch Edwards said the rejection of the amendment would close the door to an immediate settlement. Mr Bonar Law said that all the members would be glad if 5s were paid to every miner, but it was impossible to fix such a scale. There must he examination to see whether the trade could stand the burden. A heated debate followed. Several Radicals and Labourites urged the Government to accept, and Sir E. Grey asked the Labourites whether it wa3 true that the Federation was prepared to waive the schedule, and, if so, though 2s and 5s could not he included in tho Bill, tho masters and men might come to an agreement on the point. Mr Kcir Hardio and others promised that the Federation would meet forthwith.

Sir Ivor Herbert's amendment may bo discussed on the report stage. A conference of tho Government, coalowners and miners' executive will meet to-night to discuss whether 5s or 2s shall be paid if the Federation shall abandon the demand for a schedule and the miners return immediately. THE SEDITION CASE.

Bowman was sentenced to nine months' hard labour and Bucks to six months', for inciting soldiers to mutiny if ordered to fire on tho strikers. FOOD CONSERVATION.

A conference of railway managers docided to keep the foodstuffs of the country going, if every passenger train were stopped, and if one company be short of coal the others will assist. COTTON SPINNERS' PROTEST.

The Federation of Lancashire Cotton Spinners' and manufacturers, employing 400,000 .hands, and paying £20,000,000 in wages has protested against the legislation on the minimum wage.