INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 73, 22 March 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL UNREST.

I. < ‘ 5 s <' -THE ENGLISH* COAL STRIKE. ' ' M London, March 21. The attitude of the Miners’ Federation is causing Ministerialists grave anxiety as to the fate of the Coal, Mines Bill. The owners also seek drastic amendments. At a meeting of the Opposition leaders, it was deckled that the minimum. provisions were not calculated to secure'permanent peace. Mr. BalfptiK : thereto re moves the rejection’--of tiie Bill'." q The; South Wales, miners are also dissatisfied with the Bill. aueh shipbuilding em.plpycis' federations, representing iOOU firms, employing 700,000 men, 'and paying £40,000,000 in wages, carried a resolution of protest against ..leg'slating for the minimum wage, pointing out the injury that would be Vmiit-ted on collective bargaining bj breach of agreements. The Cardiff Chamber of Commerce carried a resolution expressing’concern at the Government legalising breach of contracts. There was nothing in the Bill preventing the recurrence of strikes, and the Chamber recommended that the Bill do not apply to Wales until the expiry of the existing agreement in 19i5. The railwaymon are preparing to submit a new national programme tc to railway companies in May. It ineludes a minimum of twenty-five shillings weekly for adults. Harland and Wolff and the Great Western Railway are testing solid oil for fuel. Stormy weather with snow is increasing the sufferings of the poor at Cardiff. Three hundred hunger marchers at Gifitnsby appealed to the Mayoi for food. The men were suffering keenly and rations were distributed. The German coal at Middlesboro has been unloaded, and the first shipment of Canadian coal, 1250 tons, has arrived at Millwall.

Victor Grayson condemned the arrest of Tom Mann. Any soldier, he said, firing on a striker was not fidfilling the function wherefore he war enlisted. Ho urged the soldiers eithei not to shoot or to shoot high. Victor Grayson counselled the miners to insist on the schedule being embodied in the Bill. THE BILL IN JEOPARDY. (Received 22, 8.5 a.m.) London, March 21. The “Daily News” states that Air. Balfour’s move radically changes the situation. It takes decision out of the Government’s, the coal owners’, and the miners’ hands. The Opposition controls the House of Lords, and tiie Bill may die. The “Daily Mail” said that the Federation wrecked the Bill. The Government expects that defeat is not improbable. It is willing to escape the enormous difficulty its blunders and weakness have produced. TOM MANN REMANDED. (Received 22, 12.15 p.m.) London, March 21. Tom Mann has been remanded in custody at Salford. FATHETIC DESTITUTION. (Received 22, 11.25 a.m.) London, March 21. Chapels and churches are opening smn> Kitchens. There are pathetic scenes at Middlesborough, hundreds of men and women beseiging the Town Hall to register their names for the groceries and food provided from t’m Mayor’s fund. The strike pav at Cannock Chase has been reduced to five shillings. Many non-unionists in Cannock are prepared to return, but the owners do

not favour a partial return, fearing trouble. ■AMERICAN COAL MINERS. Now York, March 21. Rituminous coal operators in Cleveland have conferred with representatives of 200,000 miners of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, in connection with the wages dispute. The conference was resultless, and there is a prospect that all bituminous coal mines will be closed on April Ist, throwing 500,000 idle. N.S.W. ARBITRATION BILL. Sydney, March 21. The Legislative Council considered the Assembly’s message expressing disagreement with the Arbitration Bill amendments, and decided to insist on the amendments. The draw up reasons for the Assembly's information. THE LITHGOW STRIKE. (Received 22, 9.15 a.m.), Sydney, March 22. The executive of the Labour Council recommended the mooting that the embargo on iron produced by nonunionists at Lithgow should be lifted. The reported terms of settlement rejected by the men wore the best obtainable and should have been accepted. After discussion of the matter the meeting adjourned for a week. DIVERTING TRADE. (Received 22, 9.20 a.m.) Sydney, March 22. The Governor-General, speaking at a Newcastle Chamber of Commerce banquet, denounced the strikers. He admitted that lately workers’ wages and conditions needed revision and readjustment. The strike ran a risk of diverting trade, which it was sometimes impossible to restore. IMMENSE STRIKE PAY. (Received 22, 9.40 a.m.) London, March 21. Fi T e hundred pickets who were endeavouring to prevent a hundred nonunionists working at the Kirconnel pits overpowered the police with sticks and stones. Police reinforcements restored order. Several policemcn and strikers were injured. Ten strikers were arrested. The Premier’s position is emarrassed ) v his declaration when introducing the Bill that it was neither right, fair, nor common sense to embody a schedule. . The leaders of the Miners’ Federation claim,-xhe power to turn out sixtysix Radicals, including seven members of t to Cabinet. St ike nay issued to miners up to the 23rd will be £578,000, and to other unions £240,000.