GENERAL STRIKE URGED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1398, 26 March 1912, Page 5

GENERAL STRIKE URGED.

LITTLE HOPE OF EARLY SETTLEMENT. BILL DENOUNCED. London, March 21. The alliance between the Front Benchers in the House of Commons against inserting in the Coal Mines Bill provision for the payment of ,is. and 2s. as the minimum wages for men and boys respectively has dispelled hopes of an early settlement, and convinced the men that they must rely on their own strength. The Transport Workers' Federation and tho Sailors' and Firemen's Union are being urged to take part in a general etrike, in retaliation for Mr. Tom Mann's arrest. A mass meeting of Northumberland miners, held at Benton, condemned the Minimum Wage Bill. A meeting of colliers at Shirebrook, Warsop, demanded that the surfacemen's grievances should bo remedied, and also passed a resolution against accepting the Bill.

The Independent Labour Party has framed an oSicial resolution to he put before the Easter conference at Merthyr, Carmarthenshire, Wales, favouring a minimum wage for all workers.

Mr. Keir Hnrdie, Labour M.P. for Merthyr Tydvil, interviewed, said tho miners wero not on the point of being starved into submission; they were good for another month.

Scotch steelmakers have protested against the establishment of a minimum w«go for coal workers, and demand that (he new legislation flhall not como into operation until 1913, thus allowing existing contracts to be executed before the price of conl rises.

Six thousand persons at Birmingham waited for five hours to buy 2d. worth each of corporation coke.

It is estimated that there are 2,500,000 persons out of work or on reduced wages through the strike.

The South-Western Railway Company announces that it has sufficient coal to continue the present service for six weeks, having bought a large quantity at .£2 a ton.

The churches and chapels in many of the country districts are holding services in the afternoon instead of the evening, in order to save gas.