GREAT STRIKE IMPENDING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 173, 20 January 1912, Page 5

GREAT STRIKE IMPENDING.

THE BRITISH COAL TROUBLE.

ATTEMPTS AT SETTLEMENT,

By Cable —Press Association—Copyright. Received 19, 11.15 p.m. London, January 19.

At the Birmingham Conference, representatives of six hundred thousand miners were present. Mr. Enoch Edwards presided. In a pacific speech, he hoped a settlement would be arrived at without a miserable strike.

The meeting adjourned to enable the executive to complete their report. The general opinion of the delegates seems to favor the exempting of the aged and infirm from the operation of the minimum wages condition, and delegates are willing to discuss whvther a joint committee of masters and men could exclude habitual malingerers. Prior to the conference the Council of the Miners' Federation considered the question of minimum wages and the demands of various districts, particularly of 'South Wales, where a bitter controversy on the matter is waging. Mr. W. Harvey, M.P., stated that the demands of the Wales and Northumberland miners exceeded reasonable limits, doubtless owing to the wild statements of the local leaders, whose panacea for all ills was the doctrine of "Down with the tools!" Mr. Harvey added that 75 per cent, of the miners had already received the minimum wage, and another 15 per cent, could get it without a strike, through good management of mines and affording fair facilities to all miners. Mr. Barnes, M.P., said that in view of the result of the ballot and the masters' attitude a strike seemed inevitable. If the meeting of masters and men in couth Wales indicated the employees' spirit, he did not think much of the prospect of an early settlement. London, January 18. The ballot resulted in 548,401 votes in favoi of tendering notice and 115,921 against. UNION BADGES BARRED. THE MEN GO ON STRIKE. Received 19, 9.30 p.m. Brisbane, January 19. The tramway authorities have refused to allow men wearing badges to board the cars. The 1 union called out the power-house firemen. Twenty-four out of twenty-eight responded. Only a few cars are running. The non-unionists driving are hooted by the crowds. WHARF LABORERS' STRIKE. Received 19, 9.30 p.m. Sydney, January 19. The wharf laborers refused to touch a cargo of dairy produce on one of the North Coast Company's boats, which was loaded by non-unionists while there was a strike of wharf laborers on the Richmond river, which, however, has since, been settled. A conference was held without result. It is feared the trouble will extend to other boats. MINERS STRIKE AT NEWNES. Sydnej. January ID. ' Owing to reported disturbances in connection with the strike of miners at Newnes, a detachment of police left the city for the scene last night. TRAMWAY SERVICE INTERRUPTED. Brisbane, January 19. Both sides are determined in the tram trouble. The men on the trams, who were not wearing badges, were hooted and jeered at. The company stopped the running of all trams after business hours last night, and did not attempt to fin till fi. later hour than usual this morning. A large meeting of employees condemned the refusal of permission to wear badges, and speakers urged jnaking a stand for freedom. Developments are expected to-day. THE COTTON TROUBLE. COTTON SPINNING RESULTS. Mr. William Tattersall, of Manchester, has published his analysis of trading results of Lancashire cotton spinning companies for the twelve months ended November 30. Particulars are given of 76 mills, with a share capital of £2,806,798 and loans £1,394,792. The value of machinery, including plant, amounts to £3,288,317, aild the total spindleage is 6.570,532, thwe being 2,687,348 twist and 3,883,184 weft spindles. The year opened fairly well, and moderate profits were declared at the December and March stocktakings, but the results published at the end of June and September were irregular and rather disappointing. Of the 76 companies, 45 have made a total profit of £79,724, and 31 concerns report a total loss of £48,711 during the past twelve months. On these figures the profit on share capital works out at a little more than 1 per cent, per annum, whilst the srain on shares and loan capital combined is % per cent, per annum. Although the Tesults are not at all satisfactory, there is a distinct improvement on the previous year, when the loss on share capital was over 10 per cent, per annum, and on share and loan capital combined over 7 per cent, annum. As 1911 draws to a close the prospects are decidedlv briffhter than for a long time back. For over three months spinners have enjoyed a remunerative trade, and most companies are expected to report satisfactory profits at the end of December stocktakings.—Financial Times.