BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 March 1926, Page 3

BRITISH & FOREIGN NEWS

[Australian <fc N.Z. Cable Association.] COAL PROBLEM. LONDON, March 28. A momentous week in the coal crisis was yesterday ushered in by a series of speeches by the Labour leaders. An. indication of the trend of Trade Union opinion is that the Labour victory in Roth well election is claimed as evidence that the workers are, determined to resist any cut in wages. .Mr Sullivan, the new member for Bothwell, interviewed, said that the other workers June rallied to Labour realising that any reduction in the miners’ wages will be a signal for the employers to reduce the wages of the other trades.

The Secretary of the -Miners’ Federation. .Mr Cook, speaking at Abertridwr. said that means I’.-ust he found to assist the coal industry outside such means as a reduction of wages, longer hours and district agreements. “We cannot,” lie said, “pay the price of sacrifice any longer. We are .going to clear out the royalty owners, and that without compensation. 1 (hope.-” -Mr J. 11. Thomas. M.P., the railway representative, speaking at Dunfermline, said that the best success of trade union leadership was not to bring people out on strike, nor to promise them the moon, when they could not even give bread and cheese. It was when there were signs of a trade improvement that the coal crisis had arisen. Low and scandalous as were the minors’ wages, the fact stood out that a great number of pits wore producing coal at an uneconomical price. It was a good sign that both sides were desirous of finding a settlement.

Referring to the. coal crisis, the -Minister of Home Affairs, Sir W. Joynsou Micks, said: “We stand on the edge of a precipice. It depends or. employers and the employed whether Micro will be a trade revival, or whether a strike or a look-out will destroy tho hope o! a revival, possibly for years.

A RIGA REPORT. LONDON. .March 2.3. The. “Time’s” Riga correspondent reports that AL Zinovieff has been dismissed from tho Chairmanship of the Leningrad 'Executive Committee, owing to his opposition to his colleagues’ policy. A PLUCKY BANK MANAGER. (Received this day at 11.0 a.in.) LONDON. March 29. A bank manager’s pluck followed by a thrilling street chase frustrated a daring attempt to hold up the C’opnor Branch of Lloyd’s hank at Portsmouth. A smartly dressed young man entered the premises, presented a revolver at the manager and aid: "Give me all you have got; this is loaded.” The manager edged Inwards the door. The intruder, who ordered him to halt, then grabbed a bundle of fifty pound notes and dashed out with the manager in pursuit. A hue and cry followed. The fugitive mounted nil unattended bicycle lint a motor-ear chased and ran him down. The. bandit, being unhurt, sprang to iiis feet and fired the revolver at the ear, which smashed tinwind screen and a tyre. The policeman boarded a motor lorry, caught up to and overpowered the bandit and effected his arrest. PRINCE PROG R ESS ING. LONDON, .March 29. The Prince of Wales is making good progress. He had some sleep and has no pain.