THE STRIKE BILL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 228, 25 March 1912, Page 5

THE STRIKE BILL

MINEOWNERS' AMENDMENT NEGATIVED. A MINIMUM OF FIVE SHILLINGS. ANOTHER CONFERENCE TO BE HELD. By Cable—Pres® Association—Copyright. London, Marcn 22. Mr. Ivor Herbert, a coalowner, gave notice of an amendment to insert in the Bill five shillings and two shillings for men and boys respectively. It is reported that the miners arc trilling to leave the schedules to the district boards if Mr. Herbert' 6 minima are included in the Bill. The Labour Leader advises the miners to accept the Bill and to resume work pending a settlement of the schedules by the district committee. It asserts that when the miners have secured the minima, other trades will insist on Bimilar treatment. An inflammatory socialist leaflet is being circulated among Yorkshire miners, warning them against betrayal through the acceptance of the meaningless minimum principle. The Times states that the Cabinet refused to accept any of the miners' amendments. Mr. Herbert's amendment was negatived without a division. The Premier said he was disposed to think that 2s and 5s were reasonable, considering the unique difficulties of mining. He believed district boards would adopt those rates, but it was most undesirable to insert the particular figures. Parliament was not equipped with information on which to form a judgment. Moreover, it would be treated as a precedent. Mr. Enoch Edwards said the rejection of the amendment would close the door to an immediate settlement. Mr. Bonar Law said all members of the House would be glad if a minimum of 5s could be paid to every miner, but it was impossible to fix such a scale, ffhere must be examination to see whether the trade could stand the burden. A heated debate followed. Several Radicals and Labourites urged the Government to accept the amendment. Sir Edward Grey asked the Labourites whether it was true that the Federation was prepared to waive the schedule. If so, he thought 2s and 5s could not be included in the Bill. Masters and men might come to an agreement on th» point. Mr. Eeir Hardie and others promised that the Federation would meet forthwith. Mr. Herbert's amendment may be discussed at the report stage. A conference between the Government, coalowners, and the miners' executive meets to-night to discuss whether 5s and 2s shall be paid, or if the Federation shall abandon the demand for a schedule and the miners return immediately. The Federation of the Lancashire cotton spinners and manufacturers, employing 400,000 hands and paying £20,000,000 in wages, have protested against the legislation on the minimum wage.

TWO MILLION MEN IDLE. DISTRESS GROWING ACUTE. STRIKE AGITATORS SENTENCED. NORTH WALES RESUMING WORK. London, March 22. Miners in North Wales are arranging to return to work on Monday. There are indications that many colliers will leave the federation owing to the early exhaustion of its funds. One hundred thousand tons of shipping have been rendered idle at Southampton, and 28 steamers and 86 trawlers are laid up at Hull. Two million workers, including miners, are idle. The miners have lost £1.000,000, not one-eighth of whicli has been returned in strike'pay. The vicar of Burslem has served 40,000 meals, but relief in many places is inadequate^ The Government is considering measures for increasing the Guardians' power. Distress at Cardiff, Swansea, Nottinghamshire, Hartlepool, and in Scotland is growing acute. Schools are feeding thousands of children daily in the pottery districts. Twelve thousand are being fed daily at Leeds, and vigorous relief measures are being organised. Lord Haldane, at the dinner of the Fishmongers' Company, said that the Government would proceed, not looking to the right or left of what the Bill defines. No power could make the miners resume work, but if any desired work the Government would secure them liberty. Bowman was sentenced to nine months' hard labour, and Bucks to six months', for inciting soldiers to mutiny if ordered to fire on strikers. A conference of railway managers decided to keep the foodstuffs off the country going though every passenger train was stopped. If one company Is short of coal the others will assist.

EXISTING AGREEMENTS SAFE- , GrARDED. ANOTHER AMENDMENT NEGATIVED. Received March 24. 5.5 p.m. London, March 23. The Premier said that if the minima were inserted in the Bill there would be enormous difliculty in persuading •the Ronrd to entertain any other basis. The rejection of the minima was unreasonable. Mr. Bonar Lnv Mate? thai the miners' schedule in some districts fixed th-j rate at Is IM. realizing >J !: ■. ers could not afford l'i\in" "he standard would increase the and close many mines. 1 Mr. Mac Donald said that it would be difficult to induce the men to resume without stating the amount. The men

must have something definite, although he would be willing to waive his own full schedule. Sir Edward Grey thought that the Labor Party would act wisely to accept the measure on the understanding that they might have a conference with the owners and men to settle the question of the minima. Mr. Enoch Edwards' amendment lo <insert the federation's schedule was negatived by 367 to 55. An amendment was inserted safeguarding the existing agreements for the payment of wages at a higher mini-' mum than might have been fixed under the Act. The Premier then announced that he would adopt Sir Edward Grey's suggestion for a further conference on the minima before the report stage. THE FEDERATION FIRM IN ITS DEMAND. % THREAT FROM THE SURFACEMEN. Received 24, 5.5 p.m. London, March 23. , The meeting of the Miners' Federation reaffirmed iffc demands for the inclusion of five shillings and two shillings as the minima. I The Premier states that the owners and the men will confer on Monday. Mr. Mac Donald, interviewed, said that he hoped on Monday to find that the Bill was unnecessary. The owners hint that if the Bill is passed as it stands they will not reopen the mines until the Boards fix the minimum. Possibly several will not reopen at all to work at loss. The Surfacemen's Federation notified the Labor Party that unless they fkrs included in the minimum, will block the resumption. PITIABLE DISTRESS-FIGHTING FOR BREAD. MORE MEN IDLE. Received 24, 5.5 p.m. London, March 23. There is great destitution at Leeds, where women and children are crying for food. The authorities are doing their utmost to alleviate it. Many more Yorkshire and Lancashire mills are closing, and an additional 5000 men are thrown out of work. In Lancashire some railways are reducing the number of trains, while others are stopping all Sunday trains. Men, women, and children in Manchester are fighting for food. There are lamentable stories of hunger and fireless homes in the northern towns. Six hundred railway workers in Bangor, Wales, have received notice. The Westminster Gazette states that the Labour Party is deeply chagrined, and is expecting the Government to yield to the insertion of the minima.