THE LONDON STRIKE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 638, 28 January 1914, Page 5

THE LONDON STRIKE.

OVER 40,000 MEN IDLE.

By Telegraph..—Press Association.—Copyright London, Monday. The coal porters' strike shows little sign of improvement. The strikers contend that if a partial resumption is permitted for the sake of the hospitals and other institutions, the merchants would be no worse off for the strike, which moreover would be speedily defeated owing to the defection in their ranks. Their executive, nevertheless, will consider the question to-day. Enormous prices are being asked in London for briquettes, coke, and wood. The Labour Conciliation and Arbitration Board has offered its services to settle the strike. The employers have announced their readiness to agree to arbitration. The coal strikers are granting permits to the hospitals, but refused the Salvation Army on the ground that it was intended by that body to sell the coal. Building operations, including work on the Commonwealth Building, in the Strand, are practically at a standstill owing to the lockout of workmen over the question of preference to unionists. The strikers in the building trade have claimed unemployment benefit under the Insurance Act on the ground that they were dismissed after due notice. The authorities have refused to recognise the claims, on the ground that the matter is a trade dispute. It is estimated that there are 81,000 men idle in the building trades, and 13,000 coal porters and carmen.