BRITISH LABOUR CRISIS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 May 1921, Page 2

BRITISH LABOUR CRISIS.

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT

INDUSTRIAL CHAOS INCREASING

LONDON, May 7

'l’he industrial chaos in Britain is increasing daily. Five million men are now idle or on half-wages, representing fifteen million men, women and children. They are not buying clothes or other goods, and a gradual paralysis of trade is coming on. The miner's show no signs of giving away on the principle of a national poo’ll, which the Mining Association have now announced they will not even, discuss, as it means certain disaster to industry.

The latest trouble is the threatened holding up of British shipping. The Transport Federation is backing up thirty thousand stewards and cooks, who refuse to accept 50s a month reduction, which the sailors and fhemen have already agreed to accept. The situation is complicated by the fact that the sailors and firemen are also members of the Transport Federation Fifty shillings is part of the war bonus granted last year. The Federation threaten to stop loading or discharging vessels if “black-leg” cooks and stewards are introduced.

TRANSPORTERS’ DECISION

LONDON, May 7

The Transport Workers' Federation has issued a joint manifesto, along with the National Union of Railwaymen, call ing on th'eir members to refuse to handle or unload foreign coal imported into Britain.

There are large quantities of foreign coal arriving next week in Britain.

CLYDE DOCKERS ALL OUT

LONDON, May 6

For a fortnight the dock labourers at Glasgow have declined to handle cargoes of Welsh coal. A start was made to-day to handle it with non-union labour under police and military protection. Thereupon a general strike was 'declared and the docks were rendered idle. . The Manchester dockers have resolved that no vessel bringing coal from foreign ports will be discharged. The police at Rhondda Valley dispersed miners for demonstrating against the officers who were working the pumps.