THE STRIKE BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 231, 28 March 1912, Page 5

THE STRIKE BILL.

J PASSES THE THIRD READING. ', jf| Received 28, 1 a.m. t London, March 27. ; The Strike Bill has passed its third reading. ' THE COAL OWNERS' PROTEST. ". PROPOSED NATIONAL WAGES ; BOARD. \ ' CABINET DIFFERENCES. )' TOM MANN'S POSITION. *■ Received 27,11.25 p.m. i London, March 27. There is profound disappointment at the failure of the conference, and serious misgivings are expressed in South Wales. It is possible that efforts may be made to re-open the pits, but it is feared that there will be a change in the peaceful behaviour that has hitherto characterised the strike. The coal owners complain that the Government invited them to Downing Street and suddenly faced them with the miners' representatives. The conference lasted five minutes, and terminated by a member of the Government protecting Mr. Smtllie and suddenly resurrecting the demand for 5s 9d and 8a for Scotch miners. The mine owners immediately withdrew, several saying, *TtVi disgusting."

6mi]lie states that 6s 9d and 3s have teen the Scottish demand throughout. ffhe Daily News states that the Government intends to constitute a National {Wages Board with an independent chairman to consider 5s and 2s, upon the understanding that the miners will reEnxn to work if the point is settled. The Miners' Federation will consider the proposal to-day. The Birmingham Post states that Lord Loreburn and Viscount Morley, at Friday's Cabinet meeting, strongly opposed the insertion of 5s and 2s, which several Cabinet Ministers approved finally. Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. Sidney Buxton alone persisted, and only yielded .-when six colleagues definitely stated that they would retire if the figures were included. Answering Mr. Dalziel, Mr. Isaacs promised not to oppose the bailing-out of Tom Mann if he promised not to repeat hi 3 statements pending his trial. } MARCH OF THE STRIKERS. • HUGE DECLINE IN TRAFFIC RECEIPTS. • THE STRIKE AND THE BUDGET. ' Received 28, 12.5 a.m. London, March 27. One hundred strikers marched to Chirk and refused to allow the evening shift to descend. The police escorted the day workers home. Mr. Craig, a mine owner, aged 85, addressed the strikers and successfully pleaded with them to refrain from rioting demonstrations at Cannockchasc, Doncaster, against the colliers who were repairing the pits. Traffic receipts on the railways have fleclined £1,500,000 in three weeks.

The Morning Leader states that in a lew days the Government will probably be depending on the Tories for remaining in office, and it was difficult to see how it would then be able to carry Home Rule and disestablishment. It was expected that the year's surplus would exceed £4,000,000, but Mr. Masteraan said in the House of Commons that the strike had substantially influenced the revenue and might completely change the Budget.

RELIEF OP THE DISTRESSED. HARROWING DETAILSh. *• STRDXE PAY FAILING. Received 28, 1 a.m. ! London, March 27. ' One hundred thousand workers out of * population of a quarter of a million in Ave towns in the potteries district are receiving free meals .daily, chiefly through the agency of the Churches and Mayors' relief funds. Thousands are gathering in the halls and schools and securing bread, scones, butter, and soup. Special arrangements have been made for supplying infants -with milk. Crowds of half-starved children from other districts are flocking to the eoup kitchens.

A constable at Middlesboro saw a man steal a loaf of bread. When captured, he said, "Please I am starving, and so is the missus. Come and see." The constable went to the house and discovered the wife cooking a small dog. The Government are taking measures for the relief of the distress. The War Office is expected to call out the reserves to protect miners willing to work.

The 6trike pay in Northumberland has been reduced by one-half. The South Wales miners will receive their last instalment this week, and the Lancashire men next week. Durham, Derbyshire, and Nottingham will be able to pay full allowances for a month longer. THE CONFERENCE—A FIASCO. ■ OPPOSITION OBJECTION WITHDRAWN. FURTHER RESUMPTIONS. THREAT OF GENERAL STRIKE. THE PROSECUTION OF SYNDICALISTS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London. March 26. After two days' persuasion, the Premier succeeded in inducing the owners and men to confer, but the meetings were a fiasco. It is alleged that Mr. Smellie demanded minimum rates of os Od and 2s fid. whereupon the Welsh owners left the conference.

The Premier announced in the House of Commons that it was important to pass the Minimum Wage Bill forthwith. The Government would not consent to the insertion of the minimum rates. Mr. Bonar Law intimated that he would offer no opposition to, and place no obstacles in the way of, the passage of the measure. The Government had gone to unprecedented lengths to meet the miners. The King h* cancelled his visit to the Grand National Steeplechase as he does not desire to indulge in public amusement while the country's condition is serious. Three hundred additional miners in North Wales, and four hundred in Warwickshire and six hundred at Rosehall have resumed work. One-third of the population at Ilkeston is subsisting on charity. Children at Middlesborough are in bed, being without clothes, and others are starving in the streets. The South Wales owners have given £3OOO to the Swansea, Cardiff and Newport relief committees. West Yorkshire owners have given a thousand guineas for local relief. Mr. V. Hartshorne, interviewed, said that if the situation continues, the men will seriously consider summoning the transport workers and other organisations to assist them.

Mr. Balfour, speaking in the City, denounced misuse of freedom of speech in order to permit mutiny. Such doctrines were sheer political lunacy. He was beginning to wonder if the forces of civilisation were able to resist the agents of disintegration. Mr. Wedgwood (Liberal) moved ■ the rejection of the Consolidated Fund Bill as a protest against the prosecution of Syndicalists by the Government. He stated that the working classes were suspicious of judicial sentences. Mr. Bowerman (Labor) said the prosecution would confirm the workers in the belief that there was no chance of justice if they expressed Syndicalist opinions. Mr. Lansbury (Labor) seconded the motion. Sir R. D. Isaacs, Attorney-General, said that the only alternative to the use of the military was anarchy. If a petition was presented showing that the accused acted in ignorance he would be inclined to recommend a reduction of the sentences. Mr. Keir Hardie warned the Government not to pursue the policy of exasperation. There was no telling the result if the forces of revolt were loosed. [ The debate was adjourned.

FREE SPEECH COMMITTEE. London, March 26. The newly-formed Free Speech Dafence Committee in the House of Commons protested to the Government against prosecuting Tom Mann and others. A fund for the defence of the prisoners has been started.