BRITISH. LABOUR CRISIS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1921, Page 3

BRITISH. LABOUR CRISIS

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT

. IN FAVOR OF .STRIKE. LONDON, June l(i Miners by 70 per cent to 30 vote, favour'a continuance of the strike. MINERS CONSIDERING SITUATION LONDON, Juno 18. Sixty-four per cent, of the miners voted in the ballots. The Miners’ Executive considers the situation to-night. LODON, June 18.

The coal miners’ ballot has placed the Miners’ Executive in a dilemma. They expected an advers 0 vote, to the proposed terms, but did not expect a two thirds' majority. This is the proportion required for a continuance of the strike.

Tlq> leaders refrained from giving the men a, lead. It is stated they desired to throw upotl the r nilk and file the responsildity of terminating the strike after the failure to secure a national wage pool. The solidarity of the federation is alleged to he endangered, as many miners intend to resume work. The Miners’ Federation Executive, however, has notified tlie Government and the coal owners that the stoppage is to bq continued.

MINERS OFFERS REFUSED. (Received this dav at 8 a.m.) LONDON, June 18 Mr Lloyd George, acknowledging Mill edges letter notifying the rejection of tlie terms and continuance of the strike, said he regretted the miners decision, and notified the termination of the ten million offer Sunday. ‘The Miners Executive decided to request the executives of the various Trade Unions affected by the wages dispute to confer with a view to taking national strike action to secure mutual demands. Many miners in Notts, Warwickshire and North Wales, decided to ignore the result of tlie hiillot and resume work. BALLOT RESULTS. SOME MINERS RETURN TO WORK. Ruccued This Day at 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, June 19. The result of the coal ballot has ereat ed the most obscure situation since April. Despite tli e result thousands of miners returned to their pits. The managements generous treatment is hastening the men elsewhere io do likewise. A majority of Midlothian and Derbyshire undamaged pits are opening on Monday. Other groups are expected to follow. Meanwhile th t > local union branches have been instructed to ensure that no men return to work until ordered by the executive to return. The mass of the miners’ appeal to other disputing unions wnicli affects eleven organisations with a membership of nearly four million. The response is uncertain. Many unions are bankrupt and incapable of paying out donations. Cotton operatives, engineers, woollen workers, and trainmen representing 2,500,000 practically agr e e to a settlement and are unlikely to respond to the appeal.