BRITISH MINERS' STRIKE

Waikato Times, Volume 93, Issue 14494, 18 October 1920, Page 5

BRITISH MINERS' STRIKE

MR LLOYD GEORGE'S APPEAL.

FORCE CANNOT PREVAIL.

NO DOUBT ABOUT THE ISSUE.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received October 17, 5.5 p.m.

LONDON, October 16

Mr Lloyd George, in a message to tha public, recapitulates the Government's efforts for settlement as follows: 1. Their readiness to submit the miners' claims for increased wages to an impartial tribunal. 2. Granting the increase if the miners would restore production to the level of the output in the early part of 1920.

He adds: "The miners ar*> now attempting to pain their ends by force. The nation must, and will, resist such an attack, and there can be no doubt about ttie issue. The Government will arrange for a fair distribution of the available coal, which is sufficient for public services. All citizena must help 1o lesson the inconvenience and sufferings which a strike causes. We've been through more difficult times." EFFECT ON THE CONTINENT. THE FIRST BRITISH SUFFERERS. OPPOSITION TO "DOWN TOOLS*. (Australian and N.Z. Cuble Assn.) Received October 17, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, October 15.

The first sufferers by the strike will be France, Italy, Sweden and Norway, owing to Hie stoppage of coal shipments. Italy is particularly dependent on English coal, while Norway is so hard put to find supplies that she has sent ships to Australia to get coal. Thousands of workers In the potteries will be the tlrst English sufferers, as the employers were unable to lay in stocks of coal.

The Cannock Chase miners bitterly resent die strike decision, and say that while they voted against the datum line they never intended their vote to mean "down tools." TRADE UNION CONGRESS. SEEKING A WAY OUT. HOUSEHOLDERS ON RATIONS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received October 17, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, October 15. The Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Union Congress will meet on the 20th inst., to seek a means of ending the strike. It is understood the transporters an 1 railwaymen also hope to intervene successfully. Householders are being rationed wit'i coal. EFFORTS TO AVOID THE CLASH. MR ASQUITH'S ADVICE. MINERS BLAME THE GOVERNMENT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received October 17, 11.5 p.m. LONDON, October 17. There is great activity in leading Labour circles with a view to finding a formula providing a way out. The delegates are urging the railwaymen and transporters to be quiescent until Parliament lias spoken. Mr Thomas will move Hie adjournment of the House of Commons to thrash out Hie situation in open debate. Mr Asquith, at Newcastle, said as an old friend he appealed to the patriotism of the miners to find a saner and more humane method than a disastrous strike.

Eighty thousand steel workers at Sheffield have received a week's notice of discharge, and Palmer's Jarrow Blast, Furnaces and Steel Works have stopped. The hulk of the Leeds works are closed. Twenty thousand on the teeside are idle. Between 300 and 400 ships are held lip injSouth Wales, principally at Cardiff. All the ships nt Liver] I will be locked up within a week, and the port will be at a standstill. The miners' official statement explains that conciliatory steps have been taken since July to avoid a strike. The statement blames the Government for its unyielding attitude to reasonable demands, and declares that the cost of living lias advanced a further .11 per cent since the miners' wages were increased seven months ago, therefore they were fully entitled to the 2s increase demanded. The miners refused tn submit to an impartial tribunal because they bad lost faith ih the Government. There was no guarantee that the Government would not repudiate the tribunal's recommendations as they did Mr Sankey's award in .1919. Thousands of men of all classes. Including motor car owners and business men are registering with the Transport Ministry, offering voluntary assistance to carry on the train and transport services in (he event of the raihvaymen and transport workers joining the miners' strike. The raihvaynien's executive has summoned a meeting of brand] delegales for Wednesday to decide whether to join the strikers. The executive urges the branches to consider the seriousness of the position if the miners are defeated.

Mr Thomas, AT.P., addressing a mooting nf rnilwaymen, warned them againsl precipitating a crisis by immc- | diatoly striking with/out authorisation lin supporl nf I lie minors. Probably i nvpr 2.000.000 workers will he affected before another week, and the reuntry might he faced with the greatest social upheaval in its history. Mr Thomas continued: "Mr Lloyd George's latest letter left the door for further negotiations open. No tribunal was more fitted to face 'the responsibility of a settlement than Parliament, which is reassembling on Tuesday." Naval and military leave has been stopped, and the Coldstream Guards have been summoned to London. If. is j authoritatively stated, in ifcply to rumours, that troops will nol be sent to iln l mining areas except in grave emergency. Drastic orders have been issued respecting llh' regulation of coal and fuel supplies. The sugar rations will be half a pound weekly, and hoarding is r< sf.nVt.cd I" one week's supply <<{ food. There are ample stocks of motor spirit and oil fuel to meel all transport requirements. The Miners' Executive in South ■Wales threatened unless the strike is settled h> Hie .tlsl I" agilate for withdrawal of all nun from the mines In I Britain, including the pump hands, which are cni| %'vcd I" avert the danger of it ling. EFFECT ON AMERICAN COTTON. Australian and S.Z. Cable Assn.) lleceived October 17. I 1.5 p.m. NEW VHMK, October 10. Tl It"ii marked shows a reaction | in synpalhy with Ibe Knglish coal , strike. Cotton, which has been falling j in price recently, dropped virtually 10 i points to-day '

STRIKE NOT POPULAR.

A COMPROMISE SUGGESTED* - (Australian and N.Z. Cable-Assn.): 'Beceived October 18, 12.10 a.m. ' LONDON, October 17. The strike Is not general In Derby* shire, and many In Yorkshire and Not* tlngham have struok with reluotanoe. The strike fund In Lancashire will suffice for three weeks. Mr dynes recommends by the acceptance of one half the wage demana .rrimediately, remitting? the question of the other half to a tribunal which both sides agree ought to settle the whole system of paymont of wages. ""help for the government. appeal to ex-service men. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, October 17. The enthusiasm among all classes In offering assistance to the State exceeds that shown during the 1919 railway strike. Visoount Haig, in presiding over. the 17th Lancer;, old comrades' dinner. appealed to ex-service men to stand united in the crisis threatening the country with ruin from foolish and reckless action.