COAL CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1368, 20 February 1912, Page 5

COAL CRISIS

THE IMPENDING STRIKI!

GREAT CATASTROPHE FOR

THE NATION,

HUGO STOPPAGE FEARED,

ByTclcsrajih-l'rcss Ascociutirm-Coiiyriirlit London. IVbnmry IH. In the course nl , his speech at Mnmrliwlor. Sir Edward (iroy, foreign Herretnry. said the most serious question before Hie public mind at present was Hie |iossj. bilitv of a universal eo;il strike. This would be tho greatest national catastrophe in our history, ami lie trusted that; wisdom would be found to avoid the ruinous cost of learning in the wlicml of experience, what could be learnt beforehand. Big Sheffield, Wolvcrhamplnn, Dudley, mid other linns have resolved, in tho event of a strike, to close tho less profitable departments. Tho coal owners have luken elaborate precautions. Indications are that in the event, of a strike a hi? fillip will bo given to Iho South African coal export, to India, Egypt. West Africa, and South America. Inquiries are progressing an to the facilities for billeting soldiers in South Wales. Tho Great Centra] railway men have, been officially notified that in the event of n coal strike nmny of them will be reduced in grade or temporarily discharged. Sir Josoph Compton-Uickott, M.P., who was once chairman of several coal companies, recommends tho Government to arrange the postponement of the strike notices for a month, provided the owners concede tho principle of a minimum wage, and leave the Industrial Council to settle the amount of the wage.

600,008 MINERS INVOLVED. PARTIAL WORKING POSSIBLE. MANY NOTICES WITHHELD. (Kec. February 19, 9.15 p.m.) London, February 19. Tho total membership of tho Miners' Unions is 610,000, and the funds available total .£2,000,000. Judging by the notices withheld in South Wales, fully half the men will be thrown idle unwillingly. If a reasonably largo number desire to work, it is believed that the owners will keep parts of tho mines working, whatever the con-

sequences. Mr. D. Thomas, the well-known mineowner, in speaking at Cardiff, said neither side wanted intervention, but public pressure would compel the Government to intervene. If it did, he hoped it would act impartially. During tho Mid-Rhond-da trouble Mr. Churchill, as Home Secretary, had showed his impartiality by denouncing both sides without inquiring into the merits of the case.

Messrs. Harvey and Haslam, two members of tho Labour party in the House of Commons who are closely connected with tho mining industry, declare that intervention is undesirable until the masters and tho colliers havo exhausted all possibility of settlement by negotiation. APPEAL TO FOREIGN MINERS. MR. KEtR HARDIE AT SOCIALIST CONGRESS. A REPLY TO THE CAPITALISTS. (Rec. February 19, 9.15 p.m.) Paris, February 19.

Mr. Koir Hardie, Labour M.P. for Mcr-thyr-Tydvil, addressing the Unified Socialist Congress at Lyons, at which Gorman and Italia a delegates, were present, said that within the month (here would be a million men on strike asking for minimum wages. Ho asked the. foreign Workers to help by a general strike, which would be a reply to the. capitalistic enterprises and territorial spoliations in the Transvaal, Morocco, and Tripoli.

Mr. Sembat, the president of the congress, replied that the Socialists must not allow the Franco-British entente to become an anti-German entente. He protested that all the great nations were indulging in piratical colonial undertakings. ANXIETY AT ESSEN. GERMAN MINERS' DEMANDS. Berlin, Fobruary 18. There is anxiety in E?scn lest the threatened strike in Great Britain will spread to the Great Ruhr coalfield. All the three miners' unions have demanded an increase of wages, owing to tho rise in the cost of living since the last settlement. {Rec. February 19, 8.10 a.m.) Brussels, February 18. The miners are unwilling to enter upon a .sympathetic strike with the English miners, because failure of tho Borinnge strike strained their pecuniary reserves. CHURCH AND LABOUR. REFERENCE TO THE DISPUTE. London, February 18. Tho Upper House of. Convocation of Canterbury resolved to extend its deep sympathy "with the efforts of tho Government representatives in the interests, of those concerned to effect e. fair and reasonable settlement in the coal dispute. The Primate of All England (Dr. DavidEon) dcscriljod the threatened striko a? cutting at the heart of English life, affecting practically all the industries and homes Tho Bishop of Winchester (Dr. Talbot) thought that all would sympathise with the principle that Labour should be a first not tho last chargo on industry.