THE BRITISH COAL STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1391, 18 March 1912, Page 5

THE BRITISH COAL STRIKE.

" " ■ ▼ NEGOTIATIONS BROKEN OFF. STATEMENT BY MR- ASQUITHOTHER MEASURES MUST BO TAKEN. A MINIMI'M WAGE. 11l 'U'lecraph-Prfl»3 AowlMlon-Copyrlnlu London, March IS. Negotiations belwocn llii' strikes ami Hi.. «ialo\nier.s have been broken »"• Tln< Premier (Mr. A«f|iiii>i) lias decided to legislate for a .iiiiiiiiiinm wage for nil underground iiumi nnd hoys. •I'lio Miners' Federation Conference de,1,10,1 (hnt work shall not »* w""" , "" until (ho final shapo of the Ad is deterniiuod. .PROPOSED LEGISLATION. OUTLINED BY THE PREMIER. (Bee. March 17, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 1C It is officially announced that the Premier informed the Conference that Government would n<* rnrlinmcnt for a lpo-islativo declaration Ihnt o reasonable minimum wage, accompanied 'f /f 1 c ' enards for the employer, should bo .» statutory portion of contract-; with underground, coal miners. ITo Mated that though the Government had don* its utmost they had regretfully concluded hat an agreement was impossible. Other measures must now be taken considering the consequences to the people. M ithout i.lodiring the Government, in regard to tlic precise machinery the Premier indicated that a direct minimum would bo fixed locally by joint boards of employers anil employees with a neutral independent chairman selected by tho parties, or, if necessary, by (he Government, lho proposals would include tho provisions for securing prompt dealing with disputes. The South Wales and Scotch owners did not participate in the last two days of the Conference, desiring tho Government ' to take the resnonjibility of fixing a minimum wage. They believe Parliament will assure them a more adequate safeguard than a voluntary agreement. The real cause of the breakdown of tho Conference was the men's refusal to agreo tn arbitration, either upon the amounts of the minimum wage or the nature of the safeguards. II is expected that tho Bill will be introduced on Tuesday. The Miners' Federation meets again on Wednesday. It is possible it may then r.dvise the resumption o£ work when the Act receives tho" Royal Assent, without waiting for local negotiations for settling wages. Mr. Stanton, a Welsh delegate, declared: "If tho Bill does not meet our approval irork will not be resumed until our terms are conceded." PRESS OPINIONS. "MAT EVEN PROLONG THE AGONY." (Hec. March 17, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 16. "Tho Times" states that the Governmont's action may fail to end the strike, and may even prolong tho agony. Tho Labour party's altitudo is not promising. The. "Daily Mail" • rays tho Premier's proposal is compulsory arbitration oa the Australian parallel. Tho "Westminster .Gazette" says the Government would bo justified iii using all possible means to avoid class divisions and the upheavals which ensue, if it adopted a policy of destroying the labour laws evolved during tho last forty years. When tho present conflict is settled it may have to deliberately evolve a now policy to prevent tho public from being at the mercy of tho great primary industries. THE KING. CANCELLED VISITS TO FOREIGN COURTS. London, March 15. Owing to the coal crisis the King has cancelled intended Stato visits to foreign Courts during tho coming spring. His Majesty's home engagements will fill the summer and autumn months. VIEWS OF MEMBERS. THE PREMIER CRITICISED. London,, March 15. Mr. G. H. Roberts, Labour Whip, defends the party against the allegation of inactivity. Tho party, he says, is unable to rely on Parliament, as at present constituted, to deal justly with labour, and adds:—"Tho clamour for a legislative settlement is fraught with danger." Mr. J. Ramsay Macdonald, leader of tho Labour party, again attacks Mr. Asquith in the paper "Labour Leader." He accuses tho Premier of bungling and muddling; otherwise tho strike would by now have ended. If a Bill was introduced in Parliament hampering trade unions, giving help to establish compulsory arbitration, or giving an imperfect schedule of prices, tho Labourites would oppose it tooth and nail. Mr. It. P. Houston, Unionist M.P. for West Toxeth Division of Liverpool, and a shipowner and merchant, declares that ho has learnt on good authority that no settlement of tho strike is probable for several weeks. London, March 15. The English railways are further curtailing their services. Tho Midland Railway Company is advancing. money on tho understanding that the men out of employment will repay it when they are rc-engagcd. STRIKE PAY. A FREE FIGHT IN STJNDEREAND. Lifijdon, March IC. A free fight took placo at tho Miners' Hall in Sunderland, where 2100 men were receiving strike pay. Those not entitled owing to arrears in subscriptions stormed the place, nnd prevented the distribution. The miners in Durham have disbursed .CIU.OOI) as a fortnight's strike pay. Of SO.OOO unemployed in the potteries, 4000 are receiving unemployment benefit. THREADMILLS CLOSED. (Ilec. March 17, s.f> p.m.) London, March Hi. The threadniills at Paisley, employing twelve thousand people, close to-day, NATIONALISATION PROPOSALS. (Rec. March 17, b.!> p.m.) London, March IC. j Mr. \V. P. Reeve?, referring to Mr. Ar- ! tluir Chamberlain's suggestion us to na- , tioiialisntion, status tlint one might u« i well fall; of the niilimiali-atioii nf the ' moon. It i~ nn ii-c to di-cu-s remcilii's which will take ton year- d> i-.irry mil. !