NEW COAL CRISIS
MINERS CONTESTING ISSUE ON
NATIONALISATION
SPEECH BY MR. SMILLIE By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright London, September 3. At tho Miners'' Federation Conference Mr. Robert Smillio said tho miners were' not merely actuated by a desire to improve their own conditions, but v;ero genuinely convinced that nationalisation was essential in the interests of the nation, of industry, and of tho poorer consumers. He agreed with Mr. Justico Sankey that if the mining industry wero owned 'by the Stale auu governed . and controlled by joint committees, the causes of nine-tenths of strikes 'would, be removed. The miners . would not bo consulted betoro action'' was taken. Tuo Government was anxious by conjuring tricks to divert the people's attention from tho revelations of the Sankey Commission. Mr. Lloyd George was opposing nationalisation as the mouthpiece of Capitalists; but it was the duty of the Primo. Minister'to deal with principles, not details. He concluded by insisting that tho Government should carry out tho majority report. ' ■ Mr. W. Brace, M.P., in moving the, executive's resolution, contended that nationalisation was the ono scheme now holding the field. Ho added: "I am. a moderate man; but I have not declared that I would not agree to direct action. It ii all dependent upon circumstances. But I would say to the Government, why tempt a big organisation like this to take direct action?" •■ - ■ The resolution (demanding the nationalisation' of the mines as: recommended by the Sankey report) was carried. Tho conference, sitting privately, decided that to-morrow the executive will confer with the Triple Alliance and take a ballot regarding direct action. Impressions of the Crisis. ■ The general impression of the miners' is. that the executive's recommendations are the first and decisive move in the direction of constitutional action, _ s.nd as the executive contains some of the leading exponents of (irect action, it is unlikely that the delegates to the conference to-day will prove any more intraniiigeant. ''.'.,,>', It is. felt that the danger of industrial upheaval will diminish as the • quest ion moves forward to the full Trades Union Congress, and the immediato danger, which was also\the greatest, seems to have been averted. The example set is not likely to lie lost on tho transporters, who also include an influential extreme element, but who havo latterly appeared on-'ine whole to bo less extreme than the miners. Ostensibly the executive's recommendation only deprecates industrial action "at the present Btage," but it is considered that if the present stage can be safely passed, more mature reflection will lessen the perils .of industrial and commercial chaos. It is. also 'believed that the allusions to "the fullest and most effectivo action" are studiously non-committal, because the extreme spirits are either convinced that direct action is discredited among the rank and file, or see in constitutional procedure better prospeots of success in ti wider sphere than tho mines. It is suggested in responsible, quarters in' trades union circles thab the King6honld bo juvited to attend the Glasgow Congress in order to urge tho paramountimportance of continuous increased pro-duction.—Aus.-N.Z. Gablo. Assn. SERIOUS DECLINE IN COAL OUTPUT. London, September 3. The Board of Trade has published statistics showing that the decline in tho output of coal has averaged over two million tons a week since April, owing to tho shortened hours and strikes — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn., THE lABOMIitiPLB ALLIANCE parliamentary committee to be censured; (Rec. September 4, 1i.5 p.m.) London. September 3. The Triple Alliance will move a vote of consuro on the Labour Parliamentary Committeo at the forthcoming -Glasgow, congress for refusing to call a special congress in connection with the .recent, demands, and otherwise failing to meet tho Government's challenge- l Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. '■ ' .. [Owing to tho refusal cf the Parlui-, moutary Committee of the Trades Union Congress to call a national labour conference on the nationalisation proposals, the miners submitted to tho conference of the Triple Alliance a- proposal to ballot in tho different sections on direct action in connection with the subject, and also with, a view to preventing the military intervening in trade union disputes. This attitude was regarded as_ the prelude to a fight for nationalisation.]
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Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 12, 5 September 1919, Page 7
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686NEW COAL CRISIS Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 12, 5 September 1919, Page 7
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