LIBERAL SCHEME

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18690, 13 May 1926, Page 9

LIBERAL SCHEME

CONTINUATION OF SUBSIDY.

LABOUR'S REPLY,

DISCUSSION IN COMMONS

(AirSTRALIAJf AST) y.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATES.)

(Received May 12th, 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON, May 11.

In the House of Commons, Sir John Simon, on moving the motion for the adjournment, reiterated his point that the general strike, whatever the provocation and circumstances, could not properly be understood to be a trade dispute. "The moment a general strike is declared," he said, "it starts a wholly unconstitutional and unlawful movement which the Trades Disputes Act never contemplated."

Sir John Simon quoted a speech by Mi J. R. Clynes, declaring: "You cannot declare a general strike without anticipating a condition of civil war." He exonerated Parliamentary Labour Leaders from ever designing to blackmail the community. People could not be judged by their motives but by the obvious results of their actions. The Trade Union Council's decision to stop the Press was most stupid, and the greatest condemnation was its folly.

Social Issues,

Sir John admitted that apart froni the legal issue lay the social, industrial, and human issues to which the public and Parliament could not do justice till they realised that the general strike was a tragic blunder. Though he felt that the Government was right, ho insisted that both the Government and the Trade Union Council had got themselves into a position ill which neither could make the first move. The Government ought to announce its willingness temporarily to continue the coal subsidy upon three concurrent conditions, the first that the general striko be called off aud tho mines reopened at the old rate of pay from day to day, the second that the Governmeut ought to announco that it proposed in any event to introduce legislation to give effect to the Coal Commission's recommendations, and last that tho Trade Union Council and the coal owners should definitely undertake to negotiate forthwith upon the basis of full acceptance of tho report.

Labour Takes the Blame. Mr T. Shaw (Labour) said: "With all respect for Sir John Simon's legal knowledge, I desire to insist that it is not illegal for any body of persons to cease work if they wish. Speaking for myself, I believe that all the parliamentary Labour members desire to say, 'We have no need of Sir John Simon's absolution. We take full responsibility for all, our actions.' Sir John Simon had laid all the blame on the Trade Unions, and none on the mine owners who had posted notices of savage reductions which no self-respecting worker could accept. Nor could they refuse to help their colleagues to fight. No attempt had been made to insist upon thb lock-out notices being withdrawn to permit negotiations. The Trade Unions would never accept a state of things whero their strike notices, but not the employers' lock-out notices, must be withdrawn prior to negotiations."

Mr Tom Bhaw said that the Liberal motion would produce a status quo ante. He said: "If there is anything behind it, it will be favourably received. If they are assured that the miners will get a straight deal, the Labour members will do their utmost to bring about peace." The debate then adjourned.

Sir John Simon's speech caused animated discussion in the lobbies. While he was speaking, Cabinet was sitting, so it was impossible to gain an idea of how far Sir John's proposal to assist the coal industry for a period while arranging conditions of peace, would be acceptable to the Government. The scheme is being brought down in the form of a resolution to-morrow, the Liberals requesting the Government to grant a day for its discussion in the House.

Meanwhile lobby comments are not very encouraging, Conservative opinion being firm on the point that the general strike must be withdrawn unconditionally.

WRECKERS AT WORK.

FLYING SCOTSMAN DERAILED.

(Stdmss "Sto" Sb&vicb.)

(Eeceived May 12th, 8.30 p.m.)

LONDON, May 12,

It is revealed that yesterday's train derailment near Newcastle involved the Flying Scotsman, carrying 400 passengers. An inspector who examined the line just previously found it to be undamaged, but the driver, seeing the rail removed, immediately jammed on the brakes, which were nn able to prevent the engine and eleven carriages being derailed, and the engineand first coach overturning. It is believed that the wreckers were a mob who were hurling stones and drove off volunteers working on the line.

GERMAN COAL.

STOCKS INCREASING.

(AUSTRALIA* iSB X.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

ißecdved May 12th, 7.15 p.m.)

BERLIN, May 11

With the exception of an order from the Finnish State Railways, which was diverted from England, the German collieries in the Ruhr and Upper Silesia are not profiting materially from the Strike. Coal-buying countries are apparently awaiting development? of the British strike situation. In Upper Silesia stocks of coal are steadily increasing at the pit head owing to the entire absence of diverted orders.