To Stop the Strike

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 225, 21 March 1912, Page 5

To Stop the Strike

- * THE COAL MINES BillINTRODUCED WITH GREAT RELUCTANCE. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, March 19. The House of Commons was crowded when the Premier introduced the Coal Mines Bill. He said the Bill was brought down with great reluctance, and would only be enforced for three years, unless the parties desired to prolong it. The minimum wage would date from the time the miners resumed work. The Bill provides for district boards to consist of an equal number of representatives of the masters and men, with an independent chairman having a easting vote. The boards will make special arrangements for the aged and infirm. There are no penal provisions in the Bill, and owners are not compelled to open mines, or miners to descend. There are safeguards to protect owners, including conditions respecting regularity and efficiency. Non-compliance with these conditions will deprive the worker of the minimum wage. REMEDY WORSE THAN THE DISEASE GOVERNMENT'S ACTION CONDEMNED BY OPPOSITION. Received March 20, 9.40 p.m. London.- March 20. The Premier stated that long before the acute stage arrived the Government had carefully considered legislative action. He realised the difficulties whereto the best legislation was exposed. They thus persevered in the negotiations, hoping to secure an Escape along a better path; but the ever-growing suffering,and Impossibility of mutual settlement, made legislation inevitable. He believed that with good sense and fairness there would be no difficulty in settling the minima. Mr. Bonar Law said the remedy was perhaps worse than the disease. It was evident that as the miners' union was powerful enough to obtain this boon every trade strike would strive similarly. The guarantees were insufficient. There was nothing to prevent the "e----currence. In response to Labour heckling as to what he would do, Mr. Bonar Law said there were three courses open. The Government could have taken steps before the strike to make either a strike or lockout illegal before having recourse to arbitration. Secondly, they could allow the strike to irun its course, effectively protecting willing workers. Thirdly, they might have declared that the strike must end, and use all the pressure possible to force the owners to open mines and compel the men to resum». The means the Government adopted were certainly not those the Opposition would have employed. PASSES THE FIRST STAGE. I SYNDICALISM NOT A DANGER. COMPULSORY ARBITRATION NO SECURITY. Received March 20, 10.30 p.m. London, March 20. Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald said that the Labour Party would prefer to have the .minimum expressed in cash, but would insist that the boards do not have power to reduce existing wages. The only compulsion was that the owners would have to pay the minimum. The Government had wisely left unimpaired the right to lockout and the right to strike. Compnisorily arbitration had not given security in Canada, New Zealand or Australia. Robert Cecil coapled the industrial troubles with the rise in the cost of living and Mr. Lloyd-George's speeches. He believed the Bill would inflame and embitter the industrial controversy, and nrged the encouragement of co-partner-ship. Mr. Lloyd-George did not regard syndicalism as a real danger. The minimum wage was not a syndicalist demand. The Bill was a temporary expedient, necessary to avert disaster. A drastic measure now must precipitate a perilous situation. The debate had revealed much criticism, but little constructive suggestion. It was a limited measure unless there were other drastic measures with- 1 in the resources of civilisation. The Bill was read for the first time. Sir F. G. Banburv, Unionist, gave notice to move its rejection. Mr. Claude Lowther (Unionist) gave notice to move an amendment insisting on the inclusion of compulsory arbitration. Mr. Thomas, interviewed, said the Bill did not deal with the underlying cause of the trouble. It did not secure finality, and he regretted the absence of pecuniary penalties. TOM MANN ARRESTED. Tom Mann has been arrested. The natnre of the charge has not transpired. INCITING THE SOLDIERS TO MUTINY Received March 20, 9.40 p.m. London, March 20. Tom Mann's arrest was in connection with the speech he made at Salford, in which he associated himself with the responsibility of the syndicalists' article inciting the soldiers to mutiny. STRIKE PAY EXHAUSTED. Received March 20, 9.40 p.m. London, March 20. The North Wales miners' funds are exhausted. The smallness of some of the strike pays in South Wales has occasioned dissatisfaction. HEAVY RAILWAY LOSSES. Received March 2ft. 11.45 p.m. London. March 20. The week's strike pay to four thousand miners in West Lothian has exhausted

the funds. Minor riots have occurred at Bellshill (Lanarkshire), South Derbyshire, and St. Helens. Railway losses through the strike already exceed half a million. EMPLOYERS ADVANCING MONEY TO EMPLOYEES. Mr. Thomas, chairman of the Cambrian Combine, in a letter to the Times, stated before the strike that the masters had twice made overtures to settle the dispute regarding abnormal places, but these overtures elicited no response. The real cause of the strike wap socialists controlling the South Wales miners. The permanent interests of the country would best be served by countering syndicalism with a heavy hand. The Government was attempting to cure cancer with sticking plaster. The Board of Guardians at Wakefield is paying non-unionists, who do not receive strike pay, five shillings a week, repayment of which is expected. The Lancashire education authorities are feeding many school children. Fourteen Sheffield firms, employing 40,000 hands, are granting non-unionists out of work ten shillings weekly, to be repaid at the rate of 2s 6d weekly. Two pits at Swansea, employing a thousand men, have been permanently closed.