THE BRITISH LABOUR CRISIS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1920, Page 1

THE BRITISH LABOUR CRISIS.

(Reuter’s Telegrams.) BRITISH MINERS. LONDON, Sept. 10. At a Conference between the Miners’ Executive and Sir R. Horne, the latter suggested that committees of miners and coal owners should discuss wages and anomalies. Mr Smillie, replying, said he respected Sir R. Horne’s views and suggestions. He maintained that a high price reduction of 14s 2d a tom on household coal was inseparable from the men’s wages claims. Alter Mr Smillie had expressed the miners’ views at length, the Miners’ Executive sat separately to consider the points raised. They then intimated to Sir R. Horne there was no new proposal in his statement which they considered could lead tq a satisfactory settlement of the men’s claims. The Conference sat for nearly three hours. Sir Robert Horne (Minister of Labr our) interviewed, declared, that a strike was inevitable if the miners refused to abate their demands, which were, he asserted, unjust. The Government, lie alleged, was menaced by an industrial strike for political reasons. Messrs Brow nicy and Williams and ether delegates at the Trades Union Congress strongly attacked Mr Appleton (Secretary of the Trade Union Federation) accusing hini of scurrilously abusing the movement for decent wages 1 and of making persistent attacks on the Triple Alliance of Labour and being guilty of vilification of Mr Robert Smillie.

At the Trades Union Congress it was significant that Mr Robert Smillie (miners’ leader) who was not a member of the old Parliamentary Committee, was elected to it by a big vote. Mr Thomas was also elected at the head of the list. NOTICE OF STRIKE. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 10. The Electrical Trades’ Union has given a week’s notice of a strike in sympathy with the workers locked out by tlie engineering employers’ lederations over the dispute respecting employment of a non-union foreman. The London strike will affect twenty-five thousand workers and stop trams, tubes and all electrical works. CONGRESS ENQUIRY.

(Received tliis day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 10

The Trade Union Congress appointed a committee to investigate M l ' Smillie’s charge regarding bartering votes between unions for candidates on the Trade Union’s Parliamentary Committee which is lyoked upon as Labour’s Cabinet Mm ist rv. Miners’ candidates failed to get elected to last year’s committee. because of strong opposition to their agitation in favour of direct action for political ends. REQUEST TQ CABINET. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) • LONDON, Sept. 12. Electrical trades unions asked Labour Councillors in London to urge the Minister of Transport to bring pressure to bear on the engineering employers federation. Several engineering firms in London decline to carry out the federation’s instructions to lock out em-

ployees. A section of the joint industrial council in London communicated with Hon MacNamara a rcsoluton denouncing the federation’s attitude. PREPARING FOR STRIKE. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 12. Mr McCurday states while a strike in a great industry, like coal mining, must lead to hardship, he was satisfied that given the loyalty of co-operation of the community and general determination to maintain civil order, the prangements made will secure to the country adequate if restricted supplies of food. THE COAL CRISIS. (Received this dav at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 12. The “News of the World” and “Sunday Times’ ’ urged the summoning of Parliament in view of tlie coal crisis. The miners’ strike notices are. in, but a substantial percentage of Rhymney Valley withhold theirs, while there ia considerable hesitaton and indifference shown in Yorkshire and parts of Northumberland. Hopes are now centred in the miners executive meeting in London on Tuesday.