A GRAVE DECISION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 171, 15 April 1921, Page 5

A GRAVE DECISION

TRIPLE ALLIANCE TO STRIKE TO-DAY MANY INDUSTRIES MAY BE INVOLVED RAILWAY AND TRANSPORT MEN LOTH TO JOIN By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright. London, April 13. The Triple Alliance has decided to strike on Friday’ in support of the min-ers.—Aus.-N.Z. Ca'ble Assn. London, April 13.

The Miners’ Federation informed the Triple Alliance Conference that negotiations could not be resumed with any hope of success on the present proposals of the Government and tho owners. The stage had been reached when the Alliance would have to take action.

The president of the Aline Owners’ Association states that the owners offered all they had to give. He challenged the miners to show that the industry could provide more. —Router. TRIPLE ALLIANCE - MANIFESTO "FIGHTING FOR TRADE UNION RIGHTS." CReo. April 15, 0.5 a.m.) tondon, April 13Tho Triple Alliance has issued a manifesto, stating that it was proposed that the miners should accept a permanent district wages .arrangement, involving reductions in many districts such as no trade union hitherto has ever accepted, and which if accepted would disgrace trSffe union history. The Miners’ Federation realises that tho position of tho industry is as bad as it 'has ever been in its whole history. The miners are prepared to help by accepting a reduction in wages of a national uniform character, but not below the pre-war standard of living. The manifesto concludes: “The Triple Alliance are fighting for trade union rights.” It repudiates the suggestion that, this is a political fight, declaring that they are not out to proclaim a revolution. —Reuter.

A SERIOUS BLOW DISLOCATION OF ESSENTIAL

SERVICES. (Rec. April 14, 10.35 p.m.) London, April 13.

Mr. Idoyd George, replying to Air. Thomas's intimation that the strike will begin on Friday, says: "The decision is a grave one. You threaten to dislocate the whole of the transport services of the country, so essential to the life ot the nation. I should like to know on wliat grounds you hove determined to rotcV swell a serious blow on your fellow-countrymen.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

WISER COUNSELS HOPED FOR. (Rec. April 14, 10.56 p.m.)

London, April 13.

The -fecomotive men, engineers, h'nd firemen have decided to strike on Friday., The Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Union Congress, the National Executive of the Labour Party, and the Parliamentary Labour Party will confer regarding the industrial situation tomorrow. Mr. Lloyd George, in the House of Commons, announced the railwaymen’s and transport workers’ decision to strike, but said he hoped that wiser counsels would yet prevail. No good purpose would be served by proceeding to a dismission bn the calling up of the reserves. < ~ Mr. J. IL Clynes said the Labour Party shared that view. Between now and Friday other counsels might Prevail and other steps be taken. Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DEADLOCK~MOST SERIOUS MINERS’ DEMAND FOR NATIONAL POOL. London April 13. The "Times” Labour correspondent writes: "The deadlock must be regarded as most serious, because the _ miners would never readily abandon their cherished demand for a national pool, which they regal'd as the halfway house wards nationalisation of the mines. — "The Times.” UNIONS CONSIDERING SITUATION EFFORTS TO ARRANGE ANOTHER CONFERENCE. • (Bee. April 14, 10.35 p.m.) London, April 13. The seamen aaid firemen’s ■ ballot so far is against a strike. The miners' leaders make no secret ot the fact that the railwaymen and transport workers thus far have shown no eagerness to strike. . . The Electrical Trades Union is ready to join the strike if the Triple Alliance decides that its support is desirable. A conference of unions affiliated with the Federation of General Workers, with a membership of a million and a halt, is summoned for Thursday to decide whether to join the strike. Though the Triple Alliance has decided against ;{n official peace move individual Labour lenders, including Messrs. Clynes and Henderson, are making efforts to bring the, coal owners and the miners together again. Aus.N\Z. Cable Assn. PROBABLE LENGTH OF STRIKE. - (Rev. April 15, 0.5 a.m.) London, April 14. Tho "Daily Chronicle” ways .that Government circles believe that if the strike occurs, it will not Inst beyond a fortnight.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RIOTING IN SOME DISTRICTS VOLUNTEERS PREPARING TO RESUME PUMPING. (Rev. April 15, 0.5 a.m.) London, April 14. Rioting continues in ft few mining distrites, especially in East Fife, where Marines and soldiers have now arrived to protect volunteers who aro firing ths boilers. It is hoped to resume pumping at midnight. Soldiers stand at tho pitheads with fixed bayonets, and wearing steel helmets, with rifles loaded, and Lewis guns are placed above the pithead works. The miners .are taking the situation philosophically, standing outside steel wire barriers, and flinging gibes at the stolid Highlanders standing at guard.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablq, Assn.

ATTACK RAILWAYS TRAINS RAIDED AND ROLLING STOCK DAMAGED. London, April 13.

A large body of minors nt 'midnight intimidated the signalmen at Thornton Junction, Fifeshire, and forced them to leave their boxes. Heavy goods traffic was delayed for hours. The mob considerably damaged the rolling slock, and raided a number of goods trains, from which perishable goods were removed. Policemen drove the rioters from the railway yards. The junction is now in possession of the police and naval lut-ings.—-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GOVERNMENT WILL PROTECT WORKERS IN EVENT OF EXTENSION OF STRIKE. London, April 13. Tho Government announces that in the event of the threatened extension of the

stoppage of work it will use the fullest power of tho State io protect the workers continuing in any services essential to the life of the community and protect their interests in any subsequent settlement. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. EMERGENCY~REGULATIONS LABOUR PARTY TO PROTEST. (Rev. April 15, 0.5 a.m.) London, April 14. The Labour Party will Jniove -an amendment during the Emergency Regulations debate to-day protesting against the Government’s costly warlike measures against loyal citizens, who are exercising their legal right to resist encroachments on the standard of living.— Aus-N.Z. Cable Assn. ROTTERDAM TRANSPORT WORKERS WILL REFUSE TO HANDLE BRITISH GOODS. (Rec. April 14, 10.50 p.m.) Amsterdam, April 13. The transport workers in Rotterdam have decided that if a general strike in Britain is proclaimed, they will refuse to tranship goods from or to Britain. —Aus-N.Z. Cable Assn.