The Coal Strike

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 218, 13 March 1912, Page 5

The Coal Strike

A MILLION AND A QUARTER UNEMPLOYED. OWNERS' PROFITS AND THe' MINIMUM WAGE. THE PRICE OF BREAD. V By Cable—Presi Association—Copyright. London, March 11. The Morning Post estimates the unemployed -it 1,030,000, of whom the miners number 661,480. The others include 228,000 steel, iron and tinplate workers, 85,480 textile workers, 70,000 pottery hands, 55,050 dockers, and 29,200 sailors.

There is a strong demand for vessels to load coal at New South Wales and North American ports, 18s fid a ton freight being agreed to from New South Wales to Colombo.

Many branch railways close to-day, and restaqrant cars are being taken off. The- London County Council is reducing the tram services. The quartern loaf is costing sixpence in London.

A pumping engine at Stow, Heath, in South Staffordshire, has been stopped owing to insufficiency of coal. It pumps two million gallons daily, and the collieries of the district are threatened. Mr. Haslam, Labor M.P., interviewed, said it was impossible to forget the general suffering. "If we follow Wales it means adopting a kind of vendetta. Whatever was suggested, nothing suited the Welshman. It was reasonable that the minimum wage should be that paid in abnormal places. This was the Government's point. The miners cannot afford to lose the Government's sympathy." Mr. Appleton, secretary of the Federation of Trade Unions, interviewed, said many unions were suffering very serious depletion of funds owing to unemployment. If it continues long many will be on the verge of bankruptcy. A careful investigation shows that 644,000 miners and 441.960 industrial workers have been rendered idle by the strike, also many thousands indirectly. The Board of Trade has authorised fifteen persons in excess of railway carriages and five in omnibuses in London. Two hundred thousand tons of shipping has been rendered s idle on the Tyne. Advantage is being taken to get the vessels into proper trim. •A conference of the miners agreed to meet the coal-owners for free discussion' of the whole situation without prejudice, but there must be the understanding that the principle of the minimum wage will be excluded from the discussion.

Mr. G. W. Barnes, speaking at Croydon, said that he was not going to dictate to the miners, who knew the strength of public opinion and the strength of their own purse, but no body of men should be a law unto themselves. Mr. Albert Stanley, Labor member for Staffordshire, speaking at Cacock, ■aid the owners had made enough during the past three months to pay for a twelve months' minimum wage. The miners were prepared for three months.

1,500,000 IDLE. FAIR DAY'S WORK: FAIR DAY'S PAY. "IRRITATION" STRIKES CONDEMNED. Received 12, 10.15 p.m. London, March 12. The estimate of the number rendered idle by the strike should include 203,700 surface workers, which makes the total now out of work 1,499,860. In South Wales the owners, while not abating their opposition to the minimum wage, have agreed to be represented at the conference, and it is expected that the executive of the Miners' Federation will meet the coal-owners to-dav.

Stephen Walsh, a Commoner, speaking at condemned the pamphlet circulated in South Wales on February 27, advocating "irritation" strikes. He said that every genuine trades unionist was willing to give a fair day's work for a fair day's pay. The men were now being advised to shirk their work and make the working of the mines unprofitable. That was a foul and dishonorable policy. [The pamphlet explained the organisation's methods, which included the socalled "irritation" strikes, whereby the men reduced their output during working hours until the profits disappeared, when the shareholders would be forced to relinquish the mines, which would tlfen be carried on in the interests of •the workers, who would chose their own managers, and thus be rid of the industrial "slave driving."] The Lancashire and Cheshire Miners' Federation has paid out £30,000 for the first week's benefits.

Many firms, particularly in the engineering trade in Lancashire, are using the municipal electricity in order to keep their machinery going. Mr. Markham, a Commoner, speaking at Mansfield, advised the men to stand firm for the minimum waj>e. which would only cost the owners 4d to 4'/ 2 d per ton. Welsh and Scotch owners, he said, must be forced to give the minimum by Act' of Parliament.

One hundred and fifty-seven Unionists, 72 Liberals and 10 Nationalists have signed a memorial to the Premier, asking him to appoint a Royal Commission to enquire into the possibilities of copartnership. The Labor Party refused to sign, fearing that co-partnership would undermine trades unions.

BANKERS CAUTIOUS. I Received 12, 11.30 p.m. London, March 12. Bankers are cautions about advancing money to miners' unions even on approved seeurity, without ample margin. One institution refused to advance £150,000 against exchequer bonds, but the money was obtained elsewhere. PART TIME PROVIDED. RAMSEY McDONALD CONTRADICTED Received 13, 1 a.m. London, March. 12. The Premier, questioned in the House of Commons, eaid that the Government bad noted with satisfaction that many of the masters, instead of discouraging the men, are providing part time employment. Albert Stanley, agent Cannwk Chase Miners' Association, disputed Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald's references to the Premier. Even-thin? that, had been done redoundejd to the Premier's credit.