GOAL STRIKE IN ENGLAND

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 288, 24 August 1918, Page 7

GOAL STRIKE IN ENGLAND

TWENTY THOUSAND MEN OUT

PROBLEM OF INCREASING THE OUTPUT London, August 22. Tweiity thousand coal workers in the Rotherham district, struck last evening, pending a tlio dispute in connection with the surfacemen's wages aulu'd. It is expected that the strike will extend to the majority of the lYorkshire pits to-day. THE SHORTAGE OF SUPPLIES WAYS AND MEANS OF INCREASING OUTPUT. London, August 22. The "J)aily Telegraph" states that the War Cabinet will probably _ appoint a small' committee representative of minors and coalowners, including Mr. W. Brace (Labour M.P.), Under-Secretary to the Home Office, and Mr. S. Walsh (Labour M.P.,), Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board, to ccasider proposals for increasing the output. Mr. Walsh, in an interview, advocates joint propaganda on the coalfields, miners and owners speaking from the same platform, to impress the urgency for increasing the output and the miners' personal responsibility. • Tho propaganda should continue until the grave crisis Iws passed. .Absenteeism is the chief cause of the fall in the output. ■ _ The Qoal Conservation Committee appointed to deal with the coal question and owners speaking from the same platform in 1914 recommends the establishment of a Ministry of Mines and Minerals, with statutory powers to tako steps) for the conservation of coal. Tho proposed Ministry should undertake comprehensive and co-operative drainage schemes,—Aus - N,Z Cable-Assn.