The Coal Strike

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 221, 16 March 1912, Page 5

The Coal Strike

STRIKE LEADER EXCEEDS INSTRUCTIONS. GROWING DISCONTENT AMONG NON-UNIONISTS. NATIONAL OWNERSHIP THE ULTIMATE RESULT. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Received 16, 11 pjn. London, March 15. The conference sat for four hours. There was a bald official announcement that further discussion would take place to-morrow. , The Miners' Federation have resolved that the minimum wage demands must be left in the hands of the executive, but are willing that there should be local negotiations in regard to the wages of fiay-men and piece-workers ether than cod-getters if the miners' minimum wage m first agreed to. The Federation also accepted the propetal that a nominee of the Government should attend the local negotiations. The Daily News state that Mr. SmQlie, vice-president of the Miners' Federation, has laid ddwn an ultimatum against dis- - cussing the schedule, but - the English delegates assert that he exceeded his instructions. The 'English miners are willing to discuss the schedules if the Scottish and Welsh owners accept the minimum. Mr. Arthur Chamberlain, interviewed, said that the miners' demands were just and must be granted immediately. The State might refund any loss the owners incur, or grant them release from existing contracts, which they could renew at a higher figure. The ultimate result is national ownership. Non-unionist miners resumed work at two Lancashire pits, and there is a growing discontent among non-unionist miners in Scotland. A meeting of miners at Sunderland protested against the continuance of the strike, and agreed that the Durham Lodges should urge the members to return if the Federation failed to effect a truce at the week end.

PROSPECTS OF SETTLEMENT REMOTE. TRADE DISLOCATION INCREASING. CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS OVERTAXED. London, March 14. Opinion in the lobby and among the newspapers is pessimistic, fearing that an immediate strike settlement is remote: The Premier asked the Federation to agree to postpone the question of wages for day men and piece-workers other than coal-getters, to be settled after work has been resumed. The Federation . refnsed, and adheres to its decision thai a settlement must cover all grades and districts. The Morning Post describes the Federation's offer to negotiate as misleading, since it still declines to budge from the schedule of any district. It is reported that the Premier's new suggestion is that as local settlements are Becured the men in these districts should resume.

There is evidence that English miners are tending to leave the irreconcilables, Mid it is possible Wales and Scotland will be left to finish the struggle alone withthe support of a heavy levy from English miners. Tie dislocation of other trades is increasing. A hundred and twenty thousand rallwaymen will be unemployed at the end of the week. The Daily News says the miners' blunder has struck at the unity of organised labor. Scarcely a trade union will emerge with its funds uncrippled, and the miners' victory will be soured by the allegation that it postponed, if it has not wrecked, the hopes of other trades. Destitution is increasing in industrial areas, and charitable institutions are unable to cope with the situation. The joint conference of miners and mine owners has again adjourned. PROVIDING FOR GOAL STORAGE. London, March 14. The Canvey Island Wharf and Railway Bill, for providing coal storage, has teen read a second time in the House of Lords. Opposition to the Bill on befcalf of the Port of London authority !wOl be made in committee.