WELSH MINERS’ STAND

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1929, Page 6

WELSH MINERS’ STAND

——• AGAINST CHEAPER. LABOUR. (United Press Association.—By Electric Te I eg ra p h. —Copyright.) LONDON, Fuh. 7. Later reports state that nearly one thousand men and women awaited the police and their escorted miners ai the Nine Mile Point Colliery in Mnnmoiitlishiiv. (Some of those waiting climbed trees and gave a signal when the escorted miners were approacuing. More police were rushed up to reinforce tin 1 escorting party. All were jammed in a narrow street. The Chief Constable only gave an order to the police to use their batons when the escort could not foicc its way through. A wild rush followed, and many men fell. A lew of lim women were hurt, in the stampede. Several volleys of siones were Hung at the police, who pressed lorwani using their batons til! they dispersed the whole crowd. One constable was injured. Between twenty and thirty civilians: ! were injured, moslv by cuts on the 1 head. ' ’ * UMPIRE DECIDES FOR MINERS. OWNERS AND GOVERNMENT TO BLAME. LONDON. Fob. 15. ill the House of Commons, a sene-, of questions arose Trom relcrcnces to the South Wales miners who were responsible for yesterday’s scene, j Rt Hon Sir A. Steel Maitland (MinI ister of Labour) said that the Nine \ Mile Point Colliery was closed down * on November Jrd last. A dispute ar- se ju connection with the non-onymeni ol the unemployment benefit and the umpire appointed had decided the point in favour of the miners. Then the employers on January With offered amended terms to the miu- : ers 'individually. A few miners aejeepted these, hut the majority refused them. After this, the Minister ! said, the Unnemployment Insurance officer refused (lie miners the dole-, on tin' ground that the men had rejected employment, in which connection tlm miners are now appealing. Mr Tom Slmw (Labour): Is there any evidence that the body ot the unemployed miners in South V ales are unwilling io work? Sir A. Steel Maitland: T have no evidence of that kind. All of tho evidence will he heard hv a Committee that is considering the question ot tlm uiieinoloymciit Imi ii. ID Hon J. R. Ciynos (Labour): Isn’t the stoppage due to tho owners refusing to meet the Miners’ Federation? Captain D. King (Conservative) demanded notice of the question put by Mr Ciynos. RELIEF MORE URGENT. LONDON. Feb. 7. Following on a Cabinet discussion, measures are being taken to expedite the relief of Ihe miners from the Lord Mayor’s Fund, says the "Daily Express” lobbyist.