THE COAL CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 253, 21 July 1919, Page 7

THE COAL CRISIS

GOVERNMENT'S OFFER TO THE MINERS MEN REFUSE TO GIVE NON-STRIKE PLEDGE SITUATION AGAIN SERIOUS By Telegraph-Press Aesoctatlon-Ooprrlght. London, July 17. Mr. W. Brace appealed to the Miners' Conference at Keewicfc to accept the Government's offer to suspend the 6s. increase for three months, the miners to undertake to reorganise the industry and increase the output and refrain from striking. Delegates urged refusal of the offer pending the Government's announcement of its attitude towards nationalisation. The conference agreed to co-operato with a, view to increasing the output, on condition that the Government adopted all Mr Justioo Sankey's recommendations; but it declined to give a pledge that there ' would ha no strikos for three months. There were only two dissen-tients—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. July 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 17. I There is no indication of the Government's reply to the Miners' Conference decision, which is anxiously awaited. Messrs. W. Brace and V. Hartshorn were deputed to convey the decision to the Government, but thoy declined to discuss the probabilities as to the nunMB , future aotion. The general impression is that it is the intention of the conference to compel the Government to take the next step, which will probably be the reimposition of the eu shillings increase, as the Government domanded a non-strike pledge as a condition for postponing the increase. ' Mr. R. Smillie (president of the Miners' Federation) declares? that if the Government wishes the miners to pledge not to strike the Government Jβ morally bound to pledge its acceptance of Mr. justice Sankey's report. Tho miners categorical refusal restores tho cool situation to its previous seriousness.—Aus..'f.Z.' Cable Assn. INCREASE BECOMES EFFECTIVE TO-DAY (Rec. July. 19, 9.45 a.m.) ' London, July 18. Mr Bonar Lave, in tho House of Commons, said' that in view of the miners' decision the six shillings increase would be effective on July 21— Aui».-N.Z. Cablo Assn. STRIKE OF RAILWAYMEN CAUSES SERIOUS FOOD SITUATION. ' (Rec. July 18, 8.15 p.m.) London, July 17. A strike arising, out of the rejection of a.driver owing .to failing eyesight is spreading seriousl} 1 on the North-Eastern Railway system. It began at Doncaster on Tuesday. The whole system is now dislocated, causing a serious food situation in the north-eastern counties.— Aui3.-N.Z/ Cable Assn. • STRIKERS REPUDIATE A SETTLEMENT. (Bee. July 21, 0.10 n.m.) London, July 19. The Railwaymen's Union management in the north-eastern area has .irranged for a settlement of tho strike (rouble on the basis of a postpunenient of tho drivers' tests aid the reinstatement of suspended men. The Board of Trade has promised a national tesi. The strikers, however, repudiated the settlement.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. STRIKE COMMITTEE DEFIES ' NATIONAL EXECUTIVE. (Rec. July 20, .5.5 p.m.) London, July 18. The railway strike has practically isolated Newcastle' and other north-eastern towns. Much, food is perishing. The National Executive ordered the men to resume. The Strike Committee defies the executive.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NEWSPAPERS CONDEMN MINERS' AND RAILWAYMEN'S ACTIONS. (Rec. July 19, 12.25 p.m.) London, July 18. The newspapers deplore tho miners' decision, and denounce' tho levity displayed by the railwaymen in the NorthEastern strike.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DIRECT ACTION CONDEMNED BY MR. ARTHUR HENDERSON. (Rec. July 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 18. Mi. Arthur Henderson condemns direct action, which he says involves the abro-gation-of parliamentary government and establishes a dictatorship by the major-ity.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.