THREAT OF GENERAL STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 24, 23 October 1920, Page 9

THREAT OF GENERAL STRIKE

BRITISH MINING, DISPUTE INTERVENTION BY TRADE UNION CONGRESS RAILWAYMEN ORDERED OUT (By Tolegraph-Preii Assooiation-Oonyrlf it (Hoc October 22, 7.45 p.m.) London, October 22. The "Daily Chronicle" states that the Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Union Congress havo intervened in the miners' strike. They are reported to have given the Prime Minister until midnight to-day to reopen negotiations, otherwise they will summon a special congress of trade unions with a view to calling a general strike.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Ass it. ULTIMATUM FROM" RAILWAYMEN PREPARED FOR STRIKE TO-MORROW. (Rec. October 22, 825 p.m.) London, October 21.The Railwaymen'9 Conference has decided that unless negotiations between the Government nud the miners arc opened before Saturday, the rnilwaymen will strike. The decision , was reached after a ront'erenco which lasted for three hours The official announcement states:' The railwaymen have satisfied themselves that the miners' claims aVe reasonable, and should be conceded forthwith, so they have instructed the general secretary to intimate to the Primo Minister that unless, tho miners' claims are granted and negotiations resumed on Saturday, we shall instruct our members in Eng- ■ land, Scotland, and Ireland to cease work.

Telegrams have also been instructing' members' to be prepared to cease work at midnight on Sunday unless they hear to the contrary.—Aus.-A.Z. Cable Assn. TRANSPORT WORKERS SYMPATHISE "THE ISSUE MUST BE JQINED." ' (Rcc' October 22, 8.25 p.m) London, October 21, The transport workers .are discussing a. strike insvmpathy with the minors. Mr Robert Williams states that unless tiations botween the Government' and the -Miners' Federation are recommenced vithin twenty-four hours,.the issue must be joined between the wholo of the working classes and those who support the Government in its obdurncy agauist a claim which the Triple Alliance and the Trade Union Congress regard as' justified. "Hundreds of thousands of other workers, apart - from transporters, will bo rendered idle, so it will be better to widen tho issue instantly and get the dispute settled, rather than to allow ourselves to drift without compass or rudder." . ~...,'.,, ■, Mr. Thomas, in stating that the rail-wa-unen a.re also considering sympathetic action, says: "If the miners' .strike is allowed to go on, the industrial situation may bo most dangerous. Every horn- is preoious.'—Aus.-N.Z Cable Assn. (Rec. October 23, .0.15 a.m.) ,' London, October 22. It. is pointed out that the step taken by the Parliamentary Committee of the Tirade Union Congress' explains Mr. Robeft Williams's allusions to the whole ot tho working classes joining issue with tho Government; also that the Parliamentary 'Committee considers it is bound to act on tho Trade Union Congress resolution of September 9, declaring' that the claims of the miners were reasonable and just, and should bo conceded immediately — Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ",,

SEEKING A SETTLEMENT MINISTERS AND MINERS' LEADERS MEET. (Rec. October 22, 11.40 p.m.) .London, October 21. Informal conversations took -place today between certain. Ministers and the minors' leaders. Some progress was made towards a basis for a : conference, as Mr. Adamson suggested on October 19. It is understood that tho conversations will be continued, but it is assorted.in Government circles that, the railwaymen's ultimatum rcndors the position more dif-. ficult by making it appear that the Government is'yieldinp; to threats and also stiffens the backs of employers' Generally. _ Sneaking in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister stated that in' accordance -with tho-promise mado on October 19.' tho ■ Government had . begun carefully to prospect tho ground with « view to n. further conference between the miners and the mine owners. It was necessary to proceed cautiously, because there was nothing worse than an abortive conference. Tho Government haii been encased in discussions with leading Labour members of the House of Commons, which "were still progressing, but the Railway Executive's precipitate action, had embarrassed the negotiations, adding very seriously to the difficulties. The negotiations had not broken down <md he hoped they would bo resumed, but it would have been better if the. matter had been left to the miners alone. Mr. Thomas denied that tho miners had oaid anything in aggravation of the situation. On tho contrary, they had been conciliatory and had appealed to the Premier not to allow the railwaymen's decision to prevent continuance oi tho negot'iations.-Aus.-N./. Cable Assn.

PREMIER ADVISED TO APPEAL TO COUNTRY. (Rec. October 22. II.M P.m.)

. London, October 21. The House of Commons "talked, out" a Labour motion drawing attention to the growing unemployment, and demanding Government relief schemes. Coalitionists loudly cheered General Page Croft's advice to the Premier to go to the coun-' try if the Triple Alliance carried out its 6triko. threats. Sir Donald Maclean deprecated the incident as provocative — Aus-N.Z. Cable Assn. o CONDITIONAL INCREASE MAY BE GIVEN (Rec. .October 22, 9 30 p':in.) . London, October 1!1. Si' Joseph Hewitt, of the Coal' Controller's Department, states that it is believed that Air. Lloyd Georgo will agreo to give the miners 2s. immediately on condition that if an increased output is nor. forthcoming in a month the 2s. should come off. This should! appeal to all partus as a businesslike and sportsmanlike offer—Aus.-N;}i Cable Assn. MINERS' PEACE CONDITIONS JOINT CONTROL DESIRED London, October 21.. Mr. Hodges, tho miners' secretary, stales that the peace conditions are as i'ollow:-*-(1) Tho Government must accept tho assurance that the miners are anxious for maintenance of the output and will willingly co-operate in securing it. (2) The 2s. must bo conceded unconditionally. (3) Committees shall be established . to deal with the output It is explained that the miners are prepared to do their part in securing the output, provided they aro enabled, jointly with tho owners, to exercise some control over the causes of low output and to cheok technical and other reasons to.- the causes of iuelliciency. Official returns from Lancashire and Cheshire show the increase in the unemployed to be three thousand daily. Donations ami benefits were paid yesterday to nearly 30,000 pcoplo. ' Many steamers are ldlo for want of cargoes". The seafaring community is al-

ready .suffering great hardship. About 50,000 transport workers are compulsorily idle throughout the country, whilst the railway services arc gradually being curtailed. There are 20,000 unemployed at Cardiff and. Swansea, where numbers of tinplate workers have signed contracts to go to Canada, saying, they are "fedup" with strikes and tho uncertainties of tho Welsh industry—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

INSISTENCE ON FULL DEMANDS. (Kcc. October 22, 11.40 p.m.) . London, October 21. Mr. Smillie, in a vehement speech at Glasgow, said the Government wero aiming at other unions besides tho miners. They wanted cheaper and greater production, but though it was unattainable while the trade unions possessed l existing powers they were mistaken if they were banking on a mere two or three weeks" strike. Tho miners would not bo satis-, fied with less than their full demands. Tho Government wanted to unite the nation against the miners. Ho had received a hint that an attempt would be made to import German coal, which was now boiny delivered to France. He guaranteed it 2s. were granted the output would be increased by twenty million tons in live mouths.—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn.