MINERS' FOLLY.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17109, 2 April 1921, Page 9

MINERS' FOLLY.

STRIKE IN BRITAIN,

PUMPING OPERATIONS TO CEASE. (Bj C»Wa—Presi Association—CopjriAl.) (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) (Received April Ist, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, March- 31. The miners are everywhere bringing up, their tools, and pit ponies. Even at Durham, 50,030 miners are striking, though they haw just voted in favour of a. disu-iet wages settlement. The King has issued a .Proclamation declaring a "state of emergency" under the Emergency Powers Act, 1920. Th.re are indications that the response to the miners' cali upon ihe en-gine-drivers and pump-men is not likeIv to be generally obeved. The South Wales, Yorkshire, and* Scottish enginemen haw- decided to remain at work. Apart from the withdrawal of the pump-men, which the miners' leaders .consider legitimate industrial warfare, 'all the miners' agents are advising the men to refrain from sabotage, which will place them outside the privileges of the Trades Disputes Act. Instead, the Miners' Federation advjses organised passive resistance to coal production. Sir Robt. Home, President of ,tho Board of Trade, waited at the Board of Trade all day hoping that the Miners' Executive would seek another interview before ordering the men to cease work, hut the members of the Executive 1 -ft Loudon for the coal-mining districts without even sending a message. >

It is understood that the Government has decided that the miner.; are not entitled to unemployment this is a trade dispute. Tho miners angrily resent the decision.

PROTECTING THE MINES.

(Received April Ist. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 1.

It is understood that the Government is unable to guarantee that naval stokers will run the mine pumps, a« was c!pii:» in 1919, rmd that the duty of protecting the mines will devolve on the coal-owners, whose managers, overs-ers, and other employees outside the Miners' Federation will do their best to save the pits from being flooded.

TRIPLE ALLIANCE.

ATTITUDE 0? RAILWAYMEN.

LONDON, March 31. The Miners' Executive considered reports from the railwaymen and other' transport workers, and decided to return to their districts to piace the position rospectinir the Triplo Alliance before the unions to-morrow. Mr C. T. Cramp, general secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen, states that the railwaymen, regarding the position as the prelude to a general attempt to reduce wages, have decided to call a> meeting of delegates on Wednesday. The transport workers' delegates will meet on Tuesday. (Received April Ist, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 31. The "Daily Chronicle" says that, as decontrol of the railways will come in August, the i-ailwaymen's leaders state that it is in their interests to join the miners' fight instead of waiting for the expiration of control. It is understood they will propose next week that, the Triple Alliance will not handh any coal for the railways, and thus bring the railways to a standstill. No coal will be loaded for 'export.

A TIMELY WARNING,

LONDON, March 31

Mr- Ramsay .MacDcrfvald, writing; an "Forward," warns the miners that a strike now would bo disastrous to the Labour movement. Capital would not suffer if. every mine remained idb for a week or two. The major markets were' overstocked,- and it was a good time_for a holiday. Capitalists would- be relieved, and Mr Lloyd.George provided with a good text for his next, scare speech.

A SERIOUS CRISIS.

prolonged struggle predicted:

(Received April Ist, 8.5 p.m.) . LONDON, April 1. ■' 'There is a general tendency to regard the Labour crisis as more serious than anv similar previous crisis. ■ firstly, the miners have directly appealed to the other parties to'tho Triple Alliance for active support, whereas previously they were content to leave their partners free to make their own decision. Secondly, the leaders of the railwaymen and the transport workers declare that this is the first engagement in a prolonged-.struggle on the wage reduction question, which affects them equally with the miners. - s There is no present indication that the rank and tile desire to fight, but Mr Harry Gosling, president of th» Transport Workers'' Federation, says -.—"This is not only a miners' question, but it will affect us the same way, because it is an attempt to revert to district negotiations in regard towages, instead of a national basis."- Mr C. T. Cramp, general secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen, says his executive regards the position as tho prelude to a general attempt to destroy national negotiations and reduce wages.