BRITISH MINING CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 160, 2 April 1921, Page 7

BRITISH MINING CRISIS

MEN REMOVING TOOLS AND PIT PONIES

ENGINE AND PUMP HANDS MAY NOT OBEY CALL

ATTITUDE OF TRIPLE ALLIANCE

By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright..

(Rec. April 1, 7.30 p.m.) London, March 31,

The miners everywhere are bringing up their fools and pit ponies. Even at Durham fifty thousand miners are striking, though they just voted in favour of district settlement. The King has issued a proclamation declaring a state of emergency under the Emergency Powers Act, 1920. There are indications that the miners’ call upon the engine and pumpmen is not likely to be generally obeyed. The South Wales, Yorkshire, and Scottish enginement have decided to remain at work. Apart from the withdrawal of the pumpmen, which the miners’ leaders consider legitimate industrial warfare, all tho miners’ agents are advising the men to refrain from sabotage, which would place them outside the privileges of the Trades Disputes Act. Instead, the Miners’ Federation advises organised passive’ resistance to coal production.

Sir Robert Horne waited iat the Board of Trade all day hoping that the Miners’ Executive would seek another interview before ordering tho men to cease work, but the Excutive left London for the coal districts without even sending a message. ’ It is understood that the Government Ims decided that the miners are not entitled to unemployment pay, as this is a trade dispute. The miners angrily resent the decision. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. REPORTS TO BE MADE TO LODGES. London, March 31. Tho Miners’ Executive considered reports from the railwaymen and transporters, and decided that the njembers should return to their districts and place the position respecting the Triple Alliance before the lodges to-morrow. Mr. C. T. Cramp (president of the National Union of Railwaymen) states that the railwaymen are regarding the position as a prelude to a, general attempt to reduce wages. It has been decided to call a delegates’ meeting for Wednesday. The transporters’ delegates will meet on' Tuesday.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PROTECTION OF MINES DUTY OF THE OWNERS. (Rec. April 1, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 1. It is understood that the Government is unable to guarantee that naval stokers will run the pumps. The duty ot protecting the mines will devolv.e on the coal owners, whoso, managers, overseers; and others outside tho Miners’ Federation will do their best to save the pits.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. most seriousTlabour crisis TRIPLE ALLIANCE APPEALED TO FOR SUPPORT "FIRST ENGAGEMENT IN PROLONGED STRUGGLE.” (Rec. April 1, 8.5 p.m.) London, April 1.

There is a general tendency to regard the labour crisis as more serious tb 4 an any similar crisis. In the first place the miners have directly appealed to the I Triple 'Alliance’s active support, whereas i tTiey were previously content th leave the I partners free to make their wn decision, i and in the second place, the railwaymens 1 and transporters’ leaders declare that i this is the first engagement in a prolonged struggle on the wage reduction question, which affects them equally with tho miners. There is no present indication that the rank and file desire to fteht but Mr. Gosling, the president ot the Transport Workers' Federation, says: "This is not only a miners question, but ■it will affect us in the same way, because it will attempt to revert to district negotiation instead ot national. Mr. Cramp, the railwaymen’s president, says his executive regards the position as the prelude to a general attempt to destroy national negotiations and reduce wages.—Aus.-N.Z. Gable Assn. STATEMENT BY RAILWAYMEN’S LEADERS IN MEN’S INTEREST TO JOIN • FIGHT. (Rec. April 1, 7.30 p.m.) London, March 31.

The "Daily Chronicle” says that as decontrol of the railways comes in August, the railwaymen’s leaders stat? that it is in their interest to join the miners' fight, instead of waiting for the expiration of control. It is understood that they will propose next week that the Triple Alliance shall not handle any coal for the milwßvs. and thus bring the railways to a standstill. No coal will be loaded for export.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. WARNING TO MINERS STRIKE DISASTROUS FOR LABOUR MOVEMENT. London, March 31. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, writing in “Forward,” warns the miners that a strike now will be disastrous for the Labour movement. Capital will not suffer if every mine is idle for a week or two. The major markets are overstocked, and it is a good time for a holiday. The capitalists, he says, will be relieved, and Mr. Lloyd George provided with a good text for his next scare speech.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.