BRITISH COAL CRISIS.

West Coast Times, 12 April 1912, Page 3

BRITISH COAL CRISIS.

HALF A MILLION WORKING. PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, April 11. Half a million minors are now working. SERIOUS HITCH OCCURS.

LONDON, April 11

The chief bitch in South Wales is where the Miners’ Federation conferod with enginemen and urged them to resume. The enginemen refused the Federation’s suggestion.

They then issued a manifesto to all the members, stating that while not directing the colliers, the enginemen’s places does not place difficulties in the nay of the colliery managers securing efficient men from the miners ranks. REVOLT AGAINST FEDERATION. LONDON, April 11. The revolt against the Federation is spreading in South Lancashire . HOOLIGANISM RAMPANT. LONDON, April 11. Crowds, chiefly youths and unmarried men, are visiting pits and compelling the workers to cease work.

Several serious collisions have occurred between tho police and baton charges have been frequent. Twenty thousand at Wigan arc ansiou- to work but are forced to stop, fearing that the hooligans would lock the miners within the pits. The owners at Heighten and Tyldesly have re-closed their pits, believing it would be unsafe for work. The miners at present are ina destructive mood. LONDON, April 10.—There have Ikn>u animated scenes at Shields where 3.000 seamen are joining 20 steamers which were rendered idle by the strike. AID FROM INVERCARGILL. INVERCARGILL, April 11. Tim “Southland Times” fund in aid of the starving strike children has reached £2OO.