The GREAT UPHEAVAL

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1920, Page 1

The GREAT UPHEAVAL

• | (AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION STRIKE- OUTLOOK. LONDON, October 16. r Owing to tho coa] strike there is a rather serious outlook for tho fishing , industry on the East Coast. From - there- many steam trawlers have been carrying fish to tho Continent. It is announced that the steam trawlers will not- be -allowed any bunker coal. Owing to the coat strike it is expected that some thousands of workers in the potteries will be the first English workers to be idled. The employers state they were unable to lay in any stocks of coal. PRINCE OF WALES AND STRIKE. LONDON, October 1.5. The Prince of Wales has postponed his visit to the city until the 27th. He states it is owing to the strike. Bailwaymen’s ATTITUDE. London, October 16. It is authoritatively stated the rail-) waynien have no - present intention of striking. There will be a joint meeting of the railwaymeri and the transport workers on Monday to consider ‘ their attitude to tho strike. LLOYD GEORGE AND STRIKE. LONDON, October 16. Regarding the coal strike, Mr Lloyd George has published in the Press a message to the public. He states the Government made efforts for a settlement. Firstly they were ready to submit the miners’ claims for increased wages to some impartial tribunal. Secondly, they agreed to granting some increase if the miners would restore the total production to the level of the output in the early part of 1920. Ho declared the miners were now attempting to gain their ends by force. Tlir nation must, and would resist such an attack. There could be no doubt about the issue. The miners would lose. Tho . Government would arrange for a faildistribution of the available coal. This was sufficient for the public services. All the citizens must help them to lessen any inconvenience or suffering, the strike might cause. They had been through more difficult times. COAIL EMBARGO. LONDON, October 15. The first sufferers by strike embargo of the Government on coal exports will be France, Italy, Sweden and Norway. They will keenly feel the stoppage of coal shipments. 'ltaly is particularly dependent on English coal, while Norway, is so hard put to it to find supplies that she has already sent ships to Australia to get coal.

The householders are being now rationed with coal. At the Cannock Chase Pit the miners are stated to bitterly resent the strike decision. They admit that they voted against the datum, but now say they never intended their vote to mean Lliai they would down tools. The Parliamentary Committee of tin Trade Union Congress meets on the twentieth. They will' seek , for means of ending the coal strike. It is understood that the Transporters and Railwayman also hope to intervent successfull,. PARTICULARS OF COAL STRIKE, deceived This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 17. There is great activity in leading Labour circles, with a view, to finding a formula providing a way out. Delegates are urging railwaymen and transporters to be quiescent till Parliament has spoken. Mr Thomas moves the adjournment of the Commons to thrash out the situation in open debate. Mr Asquith at Newcastle, said as an old friend lie appealed to the patriotism of the miners to find a saner and more humane method than a disastrous strike. Eighty thousand steel workers at Sheffield have received a week's notice of discharge. Palmer’s Janow blast furnaces and steel works have stopped. The bulk of Leeds works have closed. Twenty thousand at Tyneside are idle. Between three hundred and four hundred ships are held up in South Wales, principally at Cardiff. All ships at Liverpool will he locked up within a week and the port will he at a standstill, MINERS STATEMENT. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 16. A miners’ official statement explains the conciliatory steps taken since July to avoid a strike. The statement blames the Government for .its unyielding attitude to reasonable demands, and declares the cost- of living had advanced a further thirty-one per cent since the miners wages were increased seven months ago, therefore they were fully entitled to the 2s increase demanded. Miners refused to submit to an impartial Tribunal because they had lost faith in the Government. There was no guarantee that Government would not repudiate the Tribunal’s recommendations, as they did the Sankey award in 1919. v • Thousands of men of all classes, including motor car owners and business men are registering with the Transport Ministry offering voluntary assistance to carry on train and transport services in the event of railwaymen transport workers joining the miners strike. The Railway-men's. Executive has summoned a meeting of branches delegates for Wednesday, to decide wliethei to join strikers. The Executive urges branches to consider the seriousness of the position if the miners are defeated. ’ Mr Thomas M.P., addressing a ineet- ' ing of railwaymen warned them against precipitating a crisis by immediately striking unauthorisedly in support of ! ‘the miners. Probably over two million , workers will he affected and before another week the country might he faced

with the greatest social upheaval in its history. Mr Thomas continued that Lloyd George’s latest letter left a door for further negotiations open. No Tribunal was more fitting to face a responsibility for settlement than Parliament, which was reassembling on Tuesday. Naval and military leave has been stopped. The Coldstream Guards have been summoned to London. It is authoritatively stated in reply to rumours that troops will not be sent to mining areas, except* in the gravest emergency. Drastic orders have been issued respecting the regulations of coal and fuel supplies. The sugar ration will be half a pound weekly. Hoarding is restricted to one week’s supply of food. There are ample stocks of motor spirit, oil and fuel to meet all transport requirements. The miners Executive in South Wales threaten unless the strike is settled by the 31st, to agitate for the withdrawal of/all men from the mines of Britain, including the pump hands, implying a danger of flooding.