DERBYSHIRE MINERS' STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1375, 28 February 1912, Page 5

DERBYSHIRE MINERS' STRIKE.

PLAIN TALKING PROMISED. MINERS' COAL STOPPED. London, February 20. Two thousand Derbyshire miners have struck. ! At tho Premier's instance, the coalowners hnvo further conferred. Several of.tin's evening's papers report that tho owners are willing to reopen negotiations on the question of a minimum wage. Tho South Wales Miners' Executive has resolved that, in the event of a stoppage of work, all the workers shall refrain from approaching the collieries or do anything to cause damage ot disorder. Mr. James Haslam, Labour M.P. for the Chesterfield Division of Derbyshire, stated in a newspaper interview that there would bo some plain talking to-morrow. He added, referring to South Wales, that if tho Midlanders could cut tho painter they would "get all they wanted" within twenty-four hours, but they were unnbio to break away. Although tho Derbyshire men did not desiro a strike, if forced to come out they would bo as firm as a rock for the benefit of others, and would only allow sufficient work to maintain pumping operations. Resolutions to the latter effect were passed in Scotland, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire. The coal-owners in Lanarkshire have Btopped the miners' supplies of domestic coal. In the House of Commons, Mr. Reginald M'Kenna, Homo Secretary, said the Government was fully alive to its obligations in regard to.the protection of life and property in tho event of a strike. Frederick Crowsloy was remanded at Aldershot on a charge of distributing handbills urging the soldiers not to fire on strikers. Mr. Winston Churchill, First Lord of tho Admiralty, speaking in the House of Commons, said that the fleet would be independent of the strike for a considerable time.