COAL STRIKE BILL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1394, 21 March 1912, Page 7

COAL STRIKE BILL.

NO PENAL PROVISIONS.

MR. ASQUITH AND HIS CRITICS REPLY BY THE CHANCELLOR. By Telegraph-Frees Association-Copyright (Received March 20, 9.15 p.m.) London, March 20. The House of Commons was crowded when tho Premier (Mr. Asquith) introduced the Coal Mines Bill. Mr. Asquith said it was with great reluctance that tho measures had been brought down. It would only be enforced for three years, unless tho parties concerned desired to prolong it. Minimum wages would date from the timo the miners resumed. Tho district boards will consist of an equal number of masters and men, with an independent chairman having a casting vote. The district boards would make special arrangements for tho aged and infirm. There wore no penal provisions in the Bill. The owners would not be compelled to open their mines or the miners to descend. The safeguards to protect the owners included conditions respecting regularity and efficiency. Non-compliance with these conditions would deprive the worker of the Minimum wage. Difficulties of Legislation. Sir. Asquith stated that the Government, long before the acute stage of the mining crisis, had carefully considered legislative action, but had realised the difficulties to which even the best legislation would be exposed. They had thus persevered with the negotiations, hoping to secure an escape along a better path. The ever-growing suffering and the impossibility of a mutual settlement had mado legislation inevitable. He believed that with good sense and fairness there would be no difficulty in settling the minimum. That was all the Government could do.

Opposition View. Mr. Bonar Law, Leader of the Opposition, said the remedy was perhaps worse than tho disease. It would become evident if the Miners' Union proved powerful enough to obtain its boon every trado would strike and strive similarly. Tho guarantees proposed were insufficient, and there was nothing in the Bill to prevent a recurrence of the trouble. In response to Labour heckling as to what he would do, Mr. Bonar Law 6aid there wore three courses open to the Government. It could have taken stops before tho strike to make either a strike or a lock-out illegal before arbitration. Secondly, it could havo allowed the strike to run its bourse, while effectively .protecting willing workers. Thirdly, it might have declared that tho strike must end, and have used all possible pressure to force the owuers to open the mines and to compel the men to resume. Tho means tho Government had adopted were certainly not those the Opposition would i havo employed. Labour Party's Desire. Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald, Leader of the Labour party, said his party would prefer to have the rate of the minimum wage expressed in cash, but would insist that the Boards should not have power to reduce existing wages. Tho only compulsion must bo that the owners would have to pay the minimum. So far the Government had wisely left unimpaired the right to lockout and tho right to strike. Compulsory arbitration had not given security in" Canada, New Zealand, or Australia. Lord Robert Cecil, Unionist member for tho Hitchin, Division of Hertfordshire, coupled the industrial troubles with tho rise in tho cost of living and Mr. LloydGeorge's speeches. He believed the Bill would inflame; and embitter industrial controversy and urged the encouragement of co-partnership. Mr Lloyd-George Speaks. Mr. Lloyd-George, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said ho did not regard syndicalism as the real danger. The minimum wage was not a syndicalist demand. The Bill was a temporary expedient, necessary to avert disaster. A drastic measure now must precipitate a perilous situation. The debate had revealed much criticism, but little constructive suggestion. They were limited to the measure unless other drastic measures were within resources of their civilisation. The Bill was read a first time. Sir Frederick Banbury (Unionist) gave notice of motion, for the rejection of the Bill.

Mr. Claude Lowther (Unionist) gavo notice of an amendment insisting on the inclusion of compulsory arbitration. Mr. J. H. Thomas, Labour member for Derby, on being interviewed, said the Bill did not deal with tho underlying cause of tho .trouble and could not secure finality. He regretted the absence of pecuniary penalties.