COAL MINES’ TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 4 April 1921, Page 3

COAL MINES’ TROUBLE

CABLE NEWS.;

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT,

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

WELSH PIT FLOODING

LONDON, April 2. Thftre has bden a refusal by the

miners to allow the pumpmen to wort at the Llwynpia Pit in Glamorgan. Tuis . Jureatens to ruin the pit in two days, ■"as 3000 gallons of water per minute are entering the pit. Owing to the coal stoppage there are 11,000, South Wales dockers unemployed.

The Goverhment has prohibited :he ’ *export of coal and coke. The long distance passenger trains ’* are being reduced by 25 per cent ns from Wednesday. The strike is now in full swing. Pumping is being maintained at most nl the mines. ' GREATEST CRISIS SINCE THE WAR, LONDON, April 2 Undisclosed factors hare caused the Government to take the most serious view of the coal strike crisis, which formerly was only expected to be brief, but is now regarded as the greatest emergency since the outbreak of the wmr.

PARLIAMENT SUMMONED. LJONDON, April 2, A royal proclamation has been issued summoning Parliament for Monday in consequence of the general coal strike FIGHTING THE STRIKERS. LONDON, April 2. In connection with the strike some thousands of volunteers will he needed if the railway men and transport workers join the coal strikers. It is pointed out that the Government, owing to the demobilisation, does not possess the former past resource in the shape of military motors for transport, whereby it organised a food distribution throughout the country during the railway strike in 1919.

The Government must now rely on members of the community rising to the greatest emergency and placing their resources at the disposal of tTie authorities, so as to minimise the effects of the strike, if it threatens food sup plies and disorganisation of industry.

SIR R, HORNE’S STATEMENT

(Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, April 3. Sir R. Horne’s statement has been issued to the newspapers. He asks—“Are the. miners entitled to stop the coal mines because Government will not grant a subsidy, or because owners will not agree to a pooling arrangement by which the poorer mines will be subsidised out of the profits ol the more successful companies. The strike is an attempt to intimidate the Government into granting a subsidy to the coal trade and impose thereon a bastard form of nationalisation, which will kill all incentive in industry. FLOODING COAL -MINES. (Received this day at 8 n.m.) LONDOX, April 2 Despite the efforts of officials and a few volunteers, the. mine floodings continue involving the permanent ruin of six mines in Staffordshire. The “Evening Standard” states an emergency order will be issued on Monday limiUrg to one cwt. of coal weekly and reduce factories, shops and warehouses supplies of coal, electricity, and gas both for lighting and power by fifty per cent; also to enforce the weakening of the strength of gas and reduce street, Igihting to a minimum. It is understood that Government is preparing to commandeer all motor ears throughout the country in order to ensure food supplies. Many branches of liTransporters and Jtnilwaymen’s Union have notified headquarters demanding that the Triple Alliance act now »• dissolve altogether. They contend that in the event of the miners being fored to revert to district bargaining ibc\ will be sirre to follow, losing tinbenefits of the national settlements won during the war.

MASS MEETINGS OF WORKERS. (Received This Day at 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, April 3 The coal deadlock continues. There were mass meetings to-day throughout the country with the object of instructing delegates to the London Conference, whether the railwaymen and transporters shall come out in sympathy with the miners.

A FIERY LEADER. tßeceived This Day at 10.40 a.m.) LONDON. April 3. Ren Smith, Secretary of the road transporters, speaking in East End of London, said we shall he asked on Tuesday or Wednesday to give the miners undivided support regardless of the consequences. If we allow the miners to go down we shall lie taken in sections and beaten. If we stand together we have a chance. If the Government flood the roads with motor transport, my advice is that every driver should take his mate and Ids brake home and stop those motor lorries running. If Government want sabotage, they can have it to-day. It is not a question of democracy, but of class war. Let those who battled so long on the workers be given a taste ol what a general social strike is like, Let the workers show that the people who work are the people who matter On Tuesday or Wednesday we shal take up the cause. A meeting of Newcastle and Gates head railwaymen pledged their supporl to the miners to the extent oi a strike. MANNING THE PUMPS. (Received This Day at 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, April 3. Owners addressed a mass meeting o north Staffordshire miners and ex plained that unless volunteers manne the pumps many mines must be close down permanently. They asked fo volunteers and four hundred immed ately volunteered. Emergency direr tions published confirm the summar cabled on the 2nd.