BRITAIN'S COAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 143, 12 March 1920, Page 7

BRITAIN'S COAL

DEMAND FOR NATIONALISATION OF / . MINES

VOTE IN FAVOUR OF DIRECT ACTION (By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright London, March 8. The Scottish Miners' Conference in Glasgow has decided to support a national stoppage of mines at the British Miners' Federation Conference in Loudon next week. The miners, by a majority of 200,000, voted in favour of direct action in the event of the Government refusing nationalisation of tlio mines.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MOMENTOUS CONGRESS TO DECIDE REVOLUTIONARY OR Constitutional action. London, March 9. The special Trades Union Congress on March- U w r ill bo the most momentous in the history of the Labour movement. It has been called to decide the question of whether, and how, the Government shall be compelled to adopt the nationalisation of the mines. The agenda of-, fers alternative means; firstly, by a general strike, and, secondly, by intensive political propaganda. Hence the confess.will have to decide between.revolutionary and constitutional action. It is noteworthy that at the recent by-elections —Ashton. Wrekin. and Paisley—the nationalisation candidates were defeated. It is expected that the congress will'bo fairly evenly divided, but that a small majority will be against a strike, although it is certain that the miners' vote of seven thousand will be given solidly for direct action—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NATIONAL STRIKE UNLIKELY. London, March 10. i Labour correspondents of newspapers state that to-morrow's Trades Union Congress will almost certainly decide in favour of Parliamentary action. The miners' ■ conference has adjourned until Friday, when, it will discuss the Congress. decision, but it is unlikely that a national strike will occur in the absence of support of Congress for direct action.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PRESIDENT OFiiNERS'' FEDERATION' RESIGNATION DECLINED. (Rcc. March 11, 10.10 p.m.) • London, March 10. , The Miners' Federation declined to ac-, cept 'Mr. Sniillie's resignation of the presidsney owing to ill-health, and urged .Mr. Smillie to take a long rest.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. TRANSPORTDISPUTE REFERRED TO INDUSTRIAL COURT. (Rec. March. il, 8.45 p.m.) London, • March 9. The transport dispute has been referred to an industrial court, and will be heard on Maxell 21—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. STRIKE OF~FRENCH MINERS STEPS TO ECONOMISE COAL. Paris, March 8. Owimr to a serious strike of miners, the Government has ordered cafes to close at 10 p.m.. arid theatres at 11, to economise .coal.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Paris, March 9. The principal coal strike area is in the Pas de Calais. The strikers demand increased wages. ' The. Government is curtailing railway services.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. STRIKE OF JAPANESE IRONWORKERS VIOLENT RIOTING. (Rec. March 11, 7.35 p.m.) Tokio, March G. The strike of-13,000 ironworkers in Yawata province, Kvnshu, which was settled on February 2. broke out on February 24.. accompanied by violent rioting.— lleuter.