IRELAND

Southland Times, Issue 18859, 26 June 1920, Page 5

IRELAND

LONDONDERRY SITUATION EASIER. STERN MEASURES ADOPTED. MACHINE GUNS TURNED ON SNIPERS. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 24. * (Received June 25, 5.5 p.m.) The arrival of a considerable number of troops has eased the situation in Londonderry. Sniping and looting have decreased. Arrangements have been made to accom | niodr.tc an additional 4000 .soldiers, j Stern measures were adopted in the evenI inf:. The troops fired machine guns at Sinn I Fein snifters perched in trees, and it is bei iieved that fifteen were killed. A woman s.'anding in her own doorway was shot dead, whilst many others were wounded. The gas supply stopped at 5 o’clock in the morning. More people ventured into the streets today. Several more deaths occurred from random shooting. There havg been many minor outrages throughout the country, including the burning of another barracks. Cardinal Logue, speaking at Dublin, said j he had received warning that a time had i been appointed for his death. He was j thankful, because it gave him time to preI pare. He had never been a politician, and j he had never said n word to offend anyj body, whatever his religion. Meetings of railwaymen throughout Ulster carried resolution- pledging themselves to support the Government and to handle any munitions and carry troops. WORK AND WAGES THE MELBOURNE STRIKE, FAILURE OF COMPULSORY CONFERENCE. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) MELBOURNE, June 25. Mr Justice Higgins conducted a compulsory conference regarding the gas strike, wiiich failed, neither side be(ig willing to give way on the question of wages. The men I arc demanding 14s and the employers are adhering to 13s. The latter also declared that this offer would be withdrawn after Tuesday. The matter will then be fought out in the Arbitration Court. SEAMEN TO TAKE ACTION. WIDE EXTENSION FEARED. MELBOURNE, Juno 25. The Seamen’s Union announces that it is prepared to take the necessary steps to prevent roal supplies reaching the gasworks. A wide extension of the strike is feared. AFFAIRS IN NEW ZEALAND. THE MINERS’ DISPUTE. INVESTIGATION OF THE AGREEMENT. CONFERENCE BREAKS DOWN. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 25. The miners’ dispute, regarding which negotiations have been proceeding for the past week or more, ended in a deadlock today. The Miners’ Federation made a statement j that the dispute had to do with the interpretation of the agreement arrived at at the February conference in regard to increases in wages and working conditions in the case of the Kirpaku, Green island and Hikurangi mines. The conference held regarding the points in dispute failed to agree. The Federation secretary’s statement concluded : "After a deadlock between the representatives on the National Disputes Committee it was suggested that a chairman | be aigiointed to give a decision on the matj ters in dispute. The Federation agreed to 1 this if the chairman was instructed to give j his decision along the lines of the spirit of (the February Conference and not on the j literal interpretation of the clause granting | the increase. This the owners have refused, i ftiul fie trouble must be fought out as best we can and on methods decided by the men themselves.” THE COAL DEADLOCK. POSITION OF THE MINE-OWNERS. WELLINGTON, June 25. Commenting on Mr Arhuckle's statement regarding the coal deadlock, Mr W. Pryor, secretary of the Coal Mine Owners’ Association said it would be sufficient to say that there were disputes in the mines mentioned and the parties themselves having bren unable to arrive at a settlement in regard to them, they were dealt with by the National Disputes Committee, which met in Wellington last week. Even then no agreement could be arrived at. The coal mine owners’ representatives on the Disputes Committee offered to have several matters referred to the chairman, but the miners’ representatives declined to adopt that course. F'ollowing this Mr Pryor received an intimation from the Prime Minister’s office that the Federation would agree to refer matters to the chairman for decision if such chairman would consider the points in dispute according to the spirit in which the national agreement was arrived at, and not according to the strict literal reading of the clauses relating to the increased rates of pay. I Thereafter he wrote to Mr Massey saying that it would he impossible to dictate to the chairman us to how he should decide the questions put to him, as he would have to consider the evidence submitted to him in accordance with the terms of the national agreement. On behalf of the Association renewed offers were made to the Federation: (11 that the parties should agree upon a chairman, or (2) to accept the decisions of the Prime Minister, or (3) to agree that the Prime Minister should appoint a chairman, or (4) to agree to Mr Massey’s suggestion that he should submit the names off four gentlemen amongst whom the parties should agree upon one to act as chairman. The j only conditions the coal mine owners imposed was that the decisions of the chairman should be final and binding on all parties. If that was agreed to the coal mine owners were prepared to arrange an early date for the hearing of the matters in dispute.