COAL TRADE CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 206, 28 February 1912, Page 5

COAL TRADE CRISIS.

■. MINERS IN CONFERENCE. By Cable —Press Association—Copyright. Received 28, 12.30 a.m. London, February 27. Mr. Enoch Edwards presides at a conference of 160 delegates, representing 6?0,000 miners, at Westminster Palace Hotel to-day. GRIMSBY TRAWLING FLEET. Sir J. Doughty, speaking at Grimsby, declared that if a strike occurred, 15,000 fishing boats would be idle and that 2<i0,000 would be on the verge of destitution. AUSTRALIAN STRIKES QUOTED. The Times publishes an article describing Australian methods of settlement of strikes, particularly in New South Wales. MINERS AND COERCION. The Daily News states that miners cannot be coerced, but the owners can be; therefore the owners must grant the minimum wage. If they resist a Coercion Bill could be introduced and passed in the House of Commons in 24 hours. The House of Lords will accept as a matter of course. RAILWAY STRIKE POLICY.

In the event of a strike, the companies have decided that the English railways shall be treated as one system, that the passenger service be reduced to a minimum, and that goods trains be used to carry foodstuffs and be run at the rate of 15 miles an hour to economise coal. There will be sweeping reductions in staffs. RAILWAY SERVANTS WARNED. The Amalgamated Society of Railway Workers warned their members not to participat- in any strike without the executive's instructions. IRRITATION STRIKES. ■Tne South Wales Miners' Industrial Organisation, formed in South Wales, is not connected with the Miners' Federation. A pamphlet circulated in South Wales explains that the organisation's methods, which include the so-called "irritation" strikes, whereby the men reduce their output during working hours until the profits disappear, when the shareholders will be forced to relinquish the mines, which will be carried on in the interests of the workers, who will cl.ose their own managers, and thus be rid of the industrial "slave driving."

THE POSITION IN WALES,

PLENTY OP COAL FOR THE FLEET.

Mr. James Haslam, Labor member for Chesterfield, interviewed, said there would be some plain talking to-morrow. He added that he was referring to the position in South Wales. If the Midlanders could cut the painter they would get all they wanted within twenty-four hours, but they were unable to break away. Although Derbyshire did not desire to strike, if they were forced to do so they would be as firm as a rock for the benefit of others, and would only allow sufficient work to maintain pumping. Resolutions that only pumping would be allowed had been passed in Scotland, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

Coal-owners in Lanarkshire have stopped the miners' supplies of domestic coal.

Mr. McKenna, Home Secretary, speaking in the House of Commons, said that the Government was fully alive to its obligations to protect life and property in the event of a strike.

Special evening papers report that the owners are willing to re-open negotiations regarding the minimum wage.

The South Wales Miners' Executive has resolved that in the event of stoppage all should refrain from approaching the collieries to do anything to cause damage or disorder. Frederick Crowsley has been remanded at Aldershot for distributing handbills urging soldiers not to fire on strikers. Mr. Churchill has announced that there ii sufficient coal available to make the fleet independent of a strike for a considerable time.