MINERS’ STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 164, 7 April 1921, Page 5

MINERS’ STRIKE

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE OF COMMONS

QUESTION OF POSTPONING DECONTROL HOPEFUL FEELING CAUSED BY ADJOURNMENT By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright. (Rec. April 6, 5.5 p.m.) — London, April 6. Speaking; in the House of Commons, Sir Robert Horne said that the result of the last strike robed us of many markets, and the present threat had resulted in many orders going to America. The miners had refused to discuss the wages question with the owners, but demanded a Government subsidy. The present controversy was not about rates, but whether the country was to come to the assistance of the coal trade, involving tens of millions a year. He could think of nothing more pernicious to an industry as a whole which had a better chance than other industries. Pooling would destroy individual enterprise. The alternative was the payment of district rates. The suggestion that decontrol should ba suspended for a month offered no solution. He appealed to the miners to reconsider the situation. Mr. J. R. ClyAes said the struggle cculd be fought out, but it would be better to think it out. He urged the Government to bring the parties together. Intolerable reductions were proposed in the miners’ wages, amounting in some cases to 50 per cent. The Government ought to have insisted on the two parties coming together before decontrol was introduced. He insisted that there must either be nationalisation or some method of unification of Government control. Mr. Asquith urged that steps , should be taken to avert an overwhelming na- , tional disaster. Further deliberation between the parties, with the assistance of the Government, might show that the gap between the national and the district wage basis was not eo unbridgeable as it appeared to be. Ho could emceive the accepting of the principle of a national standard while providing for elastic variations in accordance with local conditions. An essential preliminary to any discussion was that the mines should not be destroyed. He : “I am in almost complete agreement with Sir Robert Horne regarding cessation of the control of the mines and the impossibility of the State calling upon tho taxpayers to maintain the solvency of a particular industry by means of a public subsidy.” Mr. J. H. Thomas said there was a genuine feeling in the miners’ minds that the Government had ,been guilty of a breach of faith in decontrolling the mines in March, instead of August. The workers believed this was a determined attempt to reduce the standard of living. Mr. Thomas condemned those who said the fight should be fought to a finish. If this were adopted, whoever won, the nation would certainly lose. Mr. Lloyd George pointed out that the public demanded the termination of State control of industry, and the payment of a subsidy to any industry out of taxation would be indefensible. The postponement of decontrol for one month would only mean that the present situation must be faced a month hence. He urged masters and men to meet and seek a permanent settlement, with or without Gcverrment intervention.

Tho debate was then adjourned. The Government’s action in consenting to an adjournment has caused -a more hopeful feeling, based on the impression that an effort will be made forthwith to reopen negotiations.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

NO MEETING ON PREMIER’S CONDITIONS STATEMENT BY MINERS’ LEADER. (Rec. April G, 7.40 p.m.) London, April G.

Mr. V. Hartshorn, the miners’ leader, states that there will be no meeting with the owners on the coriditions laid down by the Prime Minister.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

LORD DERBY ADVOCATES EXTENSION OF CONTROL. London, April 6. Lord Derby, addressing commercial mon at Liverpool, advocated the extension of coal control for a month in order to prevent the extension of the strike, and enable the public to be fully enlightened on the situation. The public paid and suffered, and ought to be the arbiters—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. STRIKERS DISPLAYING UGLY TEMPER cessatiokTofpumping INSISTED ON COLLIERIES ABA NDONED. London, April 5. An increasingly ugly temper is being shown, especially among the younger men in the mines. The pumps at the naval collieries at Pcnygraig have been abandoned, and the pits left to their fate in consequence of the nepers threatening the officials. The men’s leaders also warned tho officials ter ding tho pumps at the Cambrian collieries, Mid-Rhondda, that if they crossed the bridge to the collieries in future the leaders would not be responsible for the consequences.

Thousands of miners went in procession to the pitheads of the Ocean, collieries at Cwmparc. and demanded the cassation of pumping, which was accordingly abandoned. The procesion was oeaded by a piper.

A party of young miners marched to the Leven collieries in Fifeshire and demanded that the furnaces be put cut within ten mintes. The agent protested that the ponies were still underground, but the miners insisted, and the pumpers were withdrawn. The Wellesley colliery, which has rich seams under the Firth of Forth, is also out of action for several months. A mob of miners severely mauled a manager at Cowdenbeath. Fife, who refused to desist from working puxnpe. A large force of police used their batons, and rescued the manager. The strikers then hoisted the Red Flag, collected in thousands, and are now besieging the police. The situation is becoming critical. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable-Assn.

POLICE GUARD OVERPOWERED. (Rec. April 6, 5.5 p.m.)

London, April 5

Large bands of Scottish miners led by pipers are forcing the absolute closing of the pits in Lanarkshire.

Five hundred overpowered the police guard at West Benhar, injuring four. They attacked emergency workers, smashed the machine.ry, and left twenty-five pit ponies to their fate. Another party, at Leven, insisted on the withdrawal of the workers inside ten minutes, and would not allow the ponies to be brought from the pits. Other demonstrators forced the stoppage of the pumps working under the Firth of Forth, and disastrous floodings are feared.—United Service.

ATTITUDE OF TRIPLE ALLIANCE CRITICISED BY UNION SECRETARY

(Rec. April G, 8.55 p.m.) London, April G. Mr. Bromley, secret ary of the Locomotive Men’s Society, says he cannot understand the attitude of the Triple Alli-

ance. “If it had acted unitedly against tho Government and the coal owners it could have prevented a strike. It is peculiar that such a powerful body should wait until its constituent parts are striking before considering the position.” In his opinion the alliance had lost its opportunity. Mr. Bromley ponts out that hie society does not belong to the alliance, and is taking no action. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. transporTworkers CONSIDER. SECTIONAL DISTRICT REPORTS. London, April 5. Four hundred delegates, representing thirty-five unions comprising the Transport Workers’ Federation, at a private meeting considered the sectional district reports, and adjourned till Wednesday, after issuing an official disclaimer of the Press reports of the decision of the Dockers’ Executive (that nothing should, be done to, precipitate direct action, cr compel a general strike, without ■°e.ch body knowing the full details at i:sue), which they declare are without foundation. — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RAILWAYMEN’S DELEGATES AGAINST A STRIKE London, April 5. Special importance attaches to the decision of the transport workers, which the railwaymen await before themselves deciding on a course of action. The delegates do not favour a strike, bet ause many already unemployed are receiving State benefit of a pound weekly. If they strike, the union will not pay them so much; it will therefore pay them better not to strike, but to assist the miners financially.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MILITARY CAMP IN KENSINGTON GARDENS PREPARATIONS FOR RAILWAY OR TRANSPORT STRIKE. (Rec. April 6, 7.40 p.m.) London, April 6. In the space of a few hours last evening 3000 Foot Guards converted Kensington Gardens into a military _camp, full of active service conditions, including a wireless telephone installation. Their arrival was a complete surprise to the public, and is an indication that the Government is fully prepared for a railway or transport strike. The leading parks will be used as food depots, as in previous crises.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. EMERGENCY POWERS. London, April 5. Tho House of Lords passed a resolution bringing into operation regulations under the Emergency Powers Act.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. OFFERS OF STEAM COAL FROM RUHR London, April 5. Offers to supply steam coal at 545. per ton, c.i.f., have been received at Liverpool from the Ruhr district. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.