INDUSTRIAL POSITION.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1919, Page 2

INDUSTRIAL POSITION.

A SERIOUS SITUATION

PROSPECT OF GENERAL STRIKES

|*AUSTRALIAN it N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION]

LONDON, February 20. The industrial situation continues to present a grave aspect.

The Government, it is stated arc fully alive to the seriousness of the labour outlook. Therefore the Ministers invited the Miners’ Executive to a conference, it being expected that Mr Lloyd George would attend.

The Miners’ Officials, nowever, express the view that unless the Govern- ‘ meat advances proposals that are really important enough to warrant, another 1 National Miners Conference, then a coal

! strike cannot bo avoided it the coming j ballot gives the necessary two thirds ! majority for a strike. Both Conservaives and Labourites ! admit that the general outlook is a ! grave one, particularly in view of the Transport Workers refusing to accept with the employers arbitration as to wages and conditions. The Transporters have postponed negotiations till the fourth of March when the result of the National Industrial Council’s intervention will be considered. This is con- , sidered ominous.

It is anticipated that the coal miners negotiations will have a great influence on next Tuesday's meeting of the representatives of the Miners, Railwaymcn s and Transporter’s Federated organisations.

At this meeting a joint strike of the three groups will be discussed. It is known there is some. difference of opinion as between the leaders of the three organisations on the question of a universal general strike, so it is doubtful whether Messrs Smellie and Williams will be able to persuade the railwaymcn to partiepate with the other two federations.

SCOTTISH STRIKE BALLOT. LONDON, Feb. 21

The Scottish Miners’ Federation Executive has endorsed the Southport (English) Federation Conference’s strike ballot decisions, and lias urged tlie members of the Scottish Federation to vote for a strike to secure the shortening of hours, better wages, and . the nationalisation of mines.

THE “TRIPLE ALLIANCE.” LODNON, Feb. 21. Mr Smellie presided at a meeting of the Labour Triple Alliance. The meeting discussed tbe miners’, tbe tramwaymen’s, and tbe transporters’ national programmes. It was decided that, in view of the convening of a National Labour Disputes Council, nothing should be done precipitately by the Alliance which might tend to bring a trades union into disrepute.

COAL MINERS’ WANTS. LONDON, Feb. 21. Mr Lloyd George to-day had a conference with the Executive of the United Kingdom Coal Miners’ Federation: The Premier stated the Government were prepared to appoint immediately a Royal Commission on the trouble. It would have full powers to investigate and would have to report on the hours and wages questions, not later than the 31st March, and also report on the question of the nationalisation of the mines at some later- date. Mr Smellie, of the Federation Executive, stated the Federation might be willing to defer a decision on the question of nationalisation, but they must press for an immediate reply to their demands for an increase of 30 per cent in wages and for the reduction of hours to what they demanded.

GOVERNMENT’S POLICY. LONDON, Feb. 20

It. is generally agreed the Government’s decision to convene an Industrial Congress without delay is a statesmanlike project, but it is pointed out that -this step should have been taken several weeks ago ,instead of allowing matters to drift, as they have done until now the. issue of a great national strike has been raised. Tbe strike issues makes calm, deliberate consideration more difficult. Mr. Lloyd George has been urgently summoned* to Paris. He was to have left yesterday, after a meeting with the Miners’ Federation, hut owing to the seriousness of the labour situation he has remained in London.