COAL TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1921, Page 2

COAL TROUBLE.

CABLE NEWS.

COLLIERIES IN DANGER

MACHINE GUNS PROTECT DOCKS

A TAN Y All N ES FLOODED

ny TELEGRAPH —I'IIESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT.

AUSTRALIAN ANl> N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION

LONDON, April 6. There is now only one coal pit the district of West Fife continuing. Marines, who are armed with machine guns, are protecting the Rosvth natal dockyards.

The Cambrian collieries, at Clyd.iolw**f vale.are in danger of destruction bj p fire, as the stoppage of the machines has reversed the air current, and fires have commenced.

The miners in the Sir Ilowy Vahey invaded the mines and forced the officials, the stokers and the winders to leave.

The Rhondda. Valley pits are now at the mercy of inrushing water. It looks also as though the whole of the South Staffordshire miners will b<< “drownied out,” as there is no plant capable of dealing with the rush of the water which has collected. The collieries in the Lipton district are irretrievably ruined through flooding. Many Derbyshire miners are loyal in keeping the mines drv and in repair. DISCUSSION IN COMMONS. LLOYD GEORGE’S MOVE. LONDON, April 6. In the House of Commons a Government resolution for sanctioning emergency regulations was agreed to. Mr Lloyd George, then said that earlier in the proceedings, he had ,reported to the House that lie had received letters from the Miners’ Federation and from the Aline Owners’ Association, indicating that they wore willing to come together and to resume negotiations. Ho continued: ‘‘Last night I stated thje conditions under which negotiations- were alone possible. I thought that the House were in general agreement. (Cheers.) One condition was that the Miners’ Federation should take necessary steps to resume pumping and also to save pit ponies. I much regret that the miners have come to a decision which makes it impossible for negotiations to be resumed unless this obstacle is overcome. The Aliners’ Federation lias just sent me a communication that it cannot see its way -to give instructions to resume pumping during the negotiations.” Air Lloyd George continued by saying there was. possibly, some misunderstanding as regards the terms on which the pumping should resume. They would be paid their old rate of wages, without prejudice Therefore, he appealed to the members of the House who represented the miners to get the Abners' Federation to reconsider the decision. There would be nothing derogatory in giving such instructions during the time that the negotiations were going on, so that at the end of the negotiations the mines would he there lor the miers and the owners and the i.a* tion.

Following Air Lloyd George, Air Thomas (Welsh Labour Alember), said that he hoped that the Alember would keep it clearly in mind that the first essential was to bring the parties to-

gether. Air J. R. Clynes (Labour) said that his impression from Air Lloyd Georges’ remarks, was that the question of working the pumps should be Hie first subject for discussion at a Conference.

Mr Lloyd George here intervened, and said: “I made it clear, and Mr Asquith agreed that an essential pielimmary to any negotiations was that tlie enginemen and the pumpmii should resume. .

Mr Lolyd George added:—“l cannot believe that the view now expressed represents the - final determination of the Mineral Federation, meaning that while people concerned are discussing a national settlement, the mines shall l>e allowed gradually to be destroyed.

Mr Clynes resumed and said that the Prime Minister could lie assured of the goodwill of the Parliamentary Labour Party in meeting both sides.

PUMPING QUESTION

STILL AN OBSTACLE

LONDON, April 7

After the debate in Parliament it was announced that Mr Lloyd George had written to the Miners Federation asking them to meet him in the morfiing at Downing Street. Air Hodges (Aimers’ Secretary) states the Federation considers that the condition regarding pumping is an unnecessary one. It ought not to be put in. The men still desired a meeting.

TROUBLE IN LANARKSHIRE. LONDON, April fi.

Widespread intimidation of the pumpmen who go to work continues, especially in Lanarkshire.

The police in Lanarkshire have experienced some difficulty in protecting enginemen at work. One Lanarkshire pitman, who stayed on duty fired two blank shots from a revolver hoping to frighten an invading mob, there was then a rush of the angry miners, and much stonethrowing. "

Some bread vans, with supplies for the men at work we're intercepted. The haystacks belong to the collieries were burnt.

IN SOUTH WALES. LONDON, April 6.

Regarding the South Welsh miners, the position is now becoming desperate. The “extremists” are winning the day in district after district. They .are preventing pumping. The owners declare unless something is done without delay, fully seventy thousand miners will be unemployed for months.

In most eases, deputations of the miners sent an ultimatum to the owners demanding a cessation of pumping. Some owners yielded forthwith and others yielded when the miners threatened force. In a fe>v caesa, officials were assaulted,