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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 232, 29 March 1912, Page 5

finally sent an urgent message for the military at Lichfield. A detachment of infantry arrived from Chirk and the 2nd Regiment fro;u Aldershot. The military are equipped with ball ammunition and three days' rations and are entraining, but it is not know for which area where disorder is threatend. The other troops are being confined to barracks. JIR. KEIR HARDIE'S VIEWS. THE THUNDERER SPEAKS. Received 20, 1.25 a.m. London, March 28. Mr. Keir Hardie, at Camberwell, said that the Coal Bill was compulsory on both sides and must be accepted. The boards might meet on Friday or Saturdays if the owners wish to concede the 6s and 2s minima, after that the details would be easy. It would be possible for the men to be back at work by Easter Monday.

Mr. Henderson declares that the Labor Party and Miners' Federation make their protest now. It behoves everybody to make the Bill effective. The 5s and 2s minima ought to be the first business of the district boards. The Times states that the split between the Trade Union wing and the Socialists and Labor Party has resulted in angry schemes and recriminations. On Tuesday night, before he decided to oppose the Miners' Bill, Mr. Macbonald counselled abstaining. THE BILL BEFORE THE LORDS. DEBATE IN THE UPPER CHAMBER. Received 29, 1.35 a.m. London, March 2S. The Strike Bill was read a second time in the House of Lords. Lord Crewe explained the circumstances leading to the Bill. . Lord Lansdowne said that the Government had rejected the principle of tne minimum wage. It had been converted by a. colossal conspiracy, making the ininers' grievances a pretext. The Bill left the men's leaders in power and sentenced the country to starvation and ruin, and would, perhaps, humiliate and paralyse the nation. It was a time when men were most needed not to embarass the Government by moving amendments. The Archbishop of Canterbury appealed to the christian conscience of the nation to remember the interests of the poorest and weakest members. He believed that he was not to make his appeal in vain.

Earl Grey said that the battle proceeding between the radicals, individualists, trades unions and new unionists was aiming at the abolition of private ownership. Mr. Haldane denied that the Bill was an attempt to buy off the Government by conspiracy. He believed that it would be better to take the simple principle of a minimum wage than to attempt to f x wages.

In the committee stage the Bill was postponed, owing to the miners' leaders objecting to the wording of an amendment the Government desired to introduce.

ASSISTANCE FROM AUSTRALIA. Received 29, 12.35 a.m. Sydney, March 28. Mr. McGowen has cabled the AgentGeneral authority to spend £IOOO to provide meals for 50,000 of the starving unemployed in the provincial towns. =====