STRIKE CAUSES CABINET CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1400, 28 March 1912, Page 5

STRIKE CAUSES CABINET CRISIS

DIFFERENCE OVER MINIMUM WAGE

SIX MINISTERS THREATEN TO RESIGN

THOUSANDS STARVING

By MoßTaph—Press Association—Copyright

(Eec. March 28, 1 a.m.) London, March 27. Tho Coal Strike Bill has been read a third time in the llouso of Commons. There are a hundred thousand out of a population of a. quarter of a million in fivo towns in the Potteries District receiving free meals daily, chiefly through tho Churches' and the Mayors' Relief Funds. Thousands are gathering in halls and schools and securing bread, scone?, butter, and soiip. Special arrangements have been made to supply infants with milk. Crowds of half-starved children iu other districts are flocking to tho soup kitchens. A constable at Middlesborough saw a man steal a loaf, and captured him. The man said: "Please I am starving, so is tho missus. Como and see." Tho constable went to the house and discovered the wife cooking a small dog. The Government is taking measures to relieve tho distress. Tho War Office is expected to call out tho reserves to protect miners willing to work. Strike pay in Northumberland has been reduccd by half. The South Wales] miners will receive their last instalment this week, and the Lancashire miners next week. Tho Durham, Derbyshire, and Nottingham unions are aWe to pay the full allowances for a mouth longer.

Mr. Craig, a mine-owner, aged eightyfive, addressed the strikers, and successfully. pleaded with them to refrain from rioting.

The traffic receipts on the railways have declined by .£1,500,000 during the last three weeks.

The "Morning Leader" states that in a. few days the Government will probably be depending on tho Tories for remaining ill ofiicc. It is-difficult to see how they will then be able to carry Homo Rule, and Welsh Disestablishment.

It was expected that this year's surplus would exceed *£4,000,000, but Mr. Masterman, in tho House of Commons, Enid tho strike hail substantially influened tho revenue, and might completely change tho Budget.