BRITISH COAL STRIKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1009, 20 February 1912, Page 3

BRITISH COAL STRIKE.

ENGLAND ALARMED

London, Feb. 18. Sir Edward Grey, in a speech at Manchester, said the most serious question to the mind of the Government was the possibility of a universal coal strike. It would be the greatest national catastrophe in the nation’s history. He trusted that wisdom would be found to avoid at ruinous cost learning in the school of experience what was learnable beforehand. Several newspapers in Loudon and the provinces urge the Government somehow to stop the strike. It is reported that the Industrial Council is about to bring the masters and men together with a view to offering a Royal Commission, the men to resume while awaiting the findings of the commission, whereon a ballot will be taken. The Upper House of Convocation has passed a resolution of deep sympathy with the efforts of the Government and the representatives concerned to effect a fair and reasonable settlement of the coal dispute. The Primate decribed the threatened strike as cutting at the heart of English life and affecting all industries and homes. The Bishop of Manchester thought that all would sympathise with the principle that labour should be first and not the last charge upon our industry. Big Sheffield, Wolverhampton, Dudley and other firms resolved in the event of a strike to close the less profitable departments. The coal owners have taken elaborate precautions. There are indications that in the event of a strike a big fillip will be given to South African coal export to India, Egypt, West Africa and South America, Inquiries are progressing as to facilities for billeting soldiers in South Wales. Sir J. Compton Rickett, M.P., recommends the Government to arrange for a postponement of the notices to strike for a month, and provides owners to concede the minimum, leaving the Industrial Council to settle the amount. The Great Central Railwaymeu have been officially notified that in the event of a coal strike many will be reduced a grade or temporarily discharged. GERMAN SYMPATHY. Berijn, Feb. iS. Anxiety is felt at Essen lest the threatened strike in England should spread to the coal field which supplies the Krupps works. All three Miners' Unions have demanded an increase owing to the rise in the cost of living since the last settlement. NO SYMPATHETIC STRIKE IN BELGIUM. Brussels, Feb. xS Miners are unwilling to call a sympathetic strike to help English colliers because the failure of the Boriuage strike has strained their pecuniary reserves. Paris, Feb. 18. A referendum of French miners has resulted iu an enormous majority in favour of a strike on March ist unless Parliament legislates to grant miners a pension of two francs daily at the age of fifty and after 2,5 years’ work.