The Coal Strike

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 222, 18 March 1912, Page 7

The Coal Strike

THE MIXERS STILL DETERMINED. SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS BROKEN OFF. KING CANCELS FOREIGN TRIP. FURTHER RAILWAY CURTAILMENT. By Cable—Pre«« Association—Copyright. London, March 15. Mr. Houston, member for West Toxteth, declares that he learns on good Authority that no settlement of the ■trike is probable for several weeks. Miners at Durham disbursed £114,000 in a fortnight as strike pay. Out of 80.000 unemployed in the Potteries 4000 are receiving unemployment benefit. Negotiations with coalowners have been broken off. The Premier has decided to legislate for the minimum wage for all underground men and boys. The Miners' Federation has decided that work shall not be resumed until the final shape of the Act is determined. Owing to the coal strike the King has cancelled his State visits to foreign Courts, which he had intended to make in the spring of this year. His home engagements fill up the summer and autumn months. Mr. Roberts, Labour Whip, in defending his party against the allegation of inactivity, said that they were unable to rely on Parliament, as at present constituted, to deal justly with the position. He added that the clamour for a legislative settlement was fraught with danger. Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald again attacks Mr. Asquith in the Labour Leader for bungling and muddling, and says that otherwise the strike would have been ended. If a Bill is introduced hampering trade unions and helping to establish compulsory arbitration or giving imperfect schedule prices the Labourites will oppose it tooth and nail. The Westminster Gazette says the Government is justified in using all possible means to avoid the class divisions and upheavals which would ensue if the Government adopted a policy of destroy-j »ng the labour laws evolved during the j last forty year.-. When the present conflict is settled they may have to deliberately evolve a new policy to prevent the public being at the mercy of the great primary industries. The English railways are making fur-' ther curtailments. The Midland Railway Company is advancing sums to its unemployed on the understanding that they repay it when they are re-engaged. THE MINIMUM WAGE. | GOVERNMENT TAKE ACTION. EARLY SETTLEMENT PROBABLE. Received March 17, 5.5 p.m. London, March 16. It is officially stated that the Premier informed the conference that the Government would ask Parliament for a legislative declaration that a reasonable minimum wage, accompanied by safeguards for the employer, should be a statutory portion of all contracts with underground coal miners. He stated that though the Government bad done its utmost, he regretted that it was fonnd impossible to conclude a full agreement, and considering the consequences to the people other measures must be taken. ■'Without pledging the Government in regard to the precise machinery to be taken, the Premier indicated that a direct minimum would be fixed locally by, joint boards of employers and employed, with a neutral independent chairman selected by the parties, or, if necessary, by the Government. The proposals include provisions for aecdring prompt dealing with disputes. The South Wales and Scotch mineowners have not participated in the last two days of the conference, desiring the Government to take the responsibility of the minimum wage. They believe Parliament should assure them a more adequate safeguard than the voluntary agreement. The real cause of the breakdown in the negotiations is the refusal to agree to arbitration either upon the amounts of the minimum or the nature of the safeguards. It is expected that the Bill will be introduced on Tuesday. The Miners' Federation meets again on Wednesday, and, if possible, will then advise the resumption of work when the Act receives the Royal assent, without waiting for the local negotiations settling wages. Stanton, a Welsh delegate, has dedared that if the Bill does not meet with tbeir approval work will not be resumed until their terms are conceded.

COMPULSORY ARBITRATION SCHEME. Received March 17, 5.5 p.m. London, March 16. The Time« savs that Government action may fail to end the strike, may fven, in fact, prolong the agony, and that the Labour Party's attitude is not promising. The Daily Mail says that {he proposal is compulsory arbitration on an Australian parallel. Tba Daily Graphic states that the proposal is the fundamental aim of trades unionism. Mr. Pember Reeves, referring to Mr. Arthur Chamberlain's suggestion regarding nationalisation, said that one night ax well talk of nationalisation of the moon. It was no use to discuss remed'es which take ten years to carry oat There was a free fight at the miners' hall, Sunderland. When 2400 were receiving strike pay, those who were not entitled to receive pay. owing to arrears of subscriptions, stormed the hall and prevented itß distribution. Thread mills at Paisley, employing 12,000 workers, close to-day. MAIL STEAMER COALING AT HOLLAND. Received March 18. 1.5 a.m. London. March 17. The steamer Omrah left Plymouth for the Hook of Holland, where she coals.