THE STRIKE BILL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 227, 23 March 1912, Page 5

THE STRIKE BILL

TTHE POWERS OF STRIKE LEADERS. A DISSOLUTION IMPOSSIBLE. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, March 21. There was a packed House when the Premier formally moved the second reading of the Minimum Wage Bill. Mr. Balfour, who received an ovation, moved its rejection, at Mr. Bonar Law's request. The strike, he said, was the first formidable display of a policy which, if allowed, would be destructive to society. No American Trust ever misused its powers of paralysing trade like the leaders of the miners. The Premier never mentioned the notorious fact .if the agreements between the men and Scotch and Welsh owners, one of which Mr. Churchill countersigned on behalf of the Board of Trade. The Government Was trying to pass colossal revolution in forty-eight hours. If the Government were defeated there could be no dissolution, because it was impossible to add the confusion of a general election to the horrors of the strike. The Opposition intended to vote against the Bill, and if the Government was defeated was prepared to take the responsibility. The Premier replied that Mr. Balfour's speech was worthy of the critical occasion, but he propounded only barren negotiations in its place. The Bill was only the preliminary to further steps •Which might be necessary, which God forbid.

PASSES THE SECOND READING. THE PRECURSOR OF PERPETUAL TROUBLE. Received March 22, 9.45 p.m. London, March 22. The Bjll was read a second time by 348 to 225, the Nationalists and Labourites voting with th/e Government. Mr. Balfour was greeted with Unionist cheers and counter Ministerial cheers and shouts of "Under which King?" Mr. Balfour said the impression created fcy the opening debate was that neither on the Treasury Bench nor elsewhere was there anyone satisfied with the Government's solution, which held out no finality, but sanctioned a principle which would be a precursor of perpetual future trouble, such as the country never had fcefsmes jn fact the peril was of such a character that its magnitude was portentious. It provided a spectacle of' an organisation acting without regard to any rights and threatening to paralyse the whole community. The leaders were not tempering their power with any consideration or policy of mercy. No feudal baron exercised such power as the miners' leaders were exercising. He was unable to understand how harmony could be preserved .industrially when agreements were allowed to b*e broken. The Government had deceived themselves and the House in adducing arguments based on abnormal places, which were not arguments for the minimum wage. The miners desired to compel Parliament and a reluctant Government to adopt a principle which would render opposition to the universal application of the minimum wage impossible. The Opposition was compelled to test the opinion of the House of Commons, but a\ the same time would do its best to secure the Government's policy, bad as it was, if the House approved., The Premier denied that the Government was responsible for the crisis. It had never yielded to pressure. The proposals contained in the Bill were identical with those offered to the miners and owners three weeks ago. While he would not say that the miners' representatives had acted wisely or considerately, he challenged the likening of them to feudal barons, and the comparisons with the American trusts were unfair. He asked the Opposition whether legislation. was unnecessary. Mr. Balfour had not produced an alternative, but had only propounded barren negatives and impracticable platitudes. In the Scottish and Welsh agreements the masters and men kad deliberately reserved the question of abnormal places for future consideration. Therefore it was not reasonable to allow the agreements to stand in the way of a settlement. The failure of the conference compelled the Government to obtain Parliamentary sanction. The reasonableness of the Minimum Bill would be the means of escape from the crisis without the Government sacrificing its primary duties to society. Mr. Enoch Edwards regretted that the Government had to legislate to settle the dispute when the Federation had not asked for it. He realised that the Government would be lacking in its djitv if it did not grapple with the question. There was nothing criminal in asking for the minimum wage where the men failed to earn the proper wage through causes which were beyorfd their control. Miners were most industrious, and it was an insult to require safeguards. The minimum sought was not extravagant. Sir Erward Grey said the miners should aot ask Parliament to include a schedule which was impossible without exhaustive investigation. This was best left to district boards. If the Bill failed and the strike was prolonged, the Government would not neglect means to secure coal, which ought not to be withheld from the nation.

PRESS COMMENT. "FEDERATION WRECKED THE BILL" London, March' £l. The Daily News states' that Mr. Balfour's move radically changes the situation, and takes the decision out of the hands of the Government, the coalowners and miners. The Opposition controls the Lords, and the Bill may die. The Daily Mail says the Federation bas wrecked the Bill. The Government expects defeat, and it is not improbable it is willing to escape from the enormous difficulties its blunders and weakness have produced. The Premier's position is embarrassed by his declaration when introducing the Bill that it was neither right, fair, nor common-sense to embodv the schedule in the Bill. The leaders of the Miners' Federation claim they have voting power to turn out 66 Radicals', including 7 members of the Cabinet.

PATHETIf SCENES AND SUFFERINGS

NEARLY A MILLION STRIKE PAY. London. March 21. Churches and chapels are opening soup kitchens.

There arc pathetic scenes at Middlesboro. Hundred." of men and women are besieging the town hall to register their names for groceries and fuel provided from the Mayor's funds.

The strike pay at Cannock Chase has been reduced to five shilling-. Many nonunionists at Cannock Clia-e are prepared to return to work, but the owners do not favour a partial return, fearing trouble.

Five hundred pirkets who v.ere endeavouring tn prevent a hundred nonunionists working at Kirkconnel pits, overpowered the police with stick? and. Mum--. The police reinforcements restored fir'l"■ r, ]»iH K»*v*T;;! policemen and Mri'tcr- w injured. Ten strikers were iirre-fed.

Tiic striki. j, ;lv i-'-ivd 1.0 miners up to !M;ireli 2.1 will |,e £.">73,m 10 and to other unions £-240,000.