THE STRIKE BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 235, 2 April 1912, Page 5

THE STRIKE BILL.

FRATERNAL OPPONENTS. NATIONALISATION OF THE MINES. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, March 31. The Lothian Miners' Federation resolved not to resume work until the Wages Board settled the minimum rates in the respective districts. The troops in some coalfields are fraternising with the strikers. There was a football match at Cannock Chase between soldiers and strikers. The soldiers at Brynginalt subscribed £2O for the widow of a miner who was killed at Chirk. The Statist estimates that the Minimum Wage Act will lower the price of coal by forcing the introduction of scientific mining. Mr. Robert Blatchford, in the Clarion, opposes Tom Mann's ideas, urging that the miners should give no provocation, as they can fight within the law and win. Mr. Keir Hardie, at Leicester, said that he hoped the next strike would be for the nationalisation of the mines.

WELCOME ASSISTANCE. Sydney, April 1. The Premier has received a cable from the Agent-General, stating that the contribution from New South Wales was greatly appreciated. The distress in England was appalling, and almost beyond belief. People were actually dying of starvation in the potteries district.

PROSPECTS OF RESUMPTION. CONFLICTING OPINIONS. KAILWAYMEN RESTLESS. London, March 31. The South Wales owners, at the meeting, declared the new Act was unsatisfactory, both to owners and miners. Mr. J. Wilson, M.P., speaking at Durham, said that the Act had given miner* all they asked for at the February ballot. Their duty to their families and cognate trades demanded resumption of work forthwith. Delegates representing thirty thousand miners, at Rhonda Valley advised a resumption. The speakers criticised the Federation for not giving a definite lead. Lancashire ballots are unfavorable to a resumption. Mr. F. Wall, M.P., speaking at Doncaster, said that the men had not sought the Act, but that it was forced on them. He regretted that some had resumed work instead of waiting for a complete settlement. The miners' conference at Glasgow recommended a return to work. Buck's sentence has been reduced to a month, and.Bowman's to six months. Hard labor has been remitted. A movement has been started for the amalgamation of the three principal railwaymen's unions, aggregating 180,UOO. There are indications of a demand for a minimum wage and shorter hours.

THE RESULT OF THE BALLOT. SYNDICALISM V. SOCIALISM. £11,870,000 GONE IN WAGES. Received 1, 10.35 p.m. London, April 1. Fifty-nine collieries in South Wales voted two to one in favor of resuming work. The North Wales collieries are overwhelmingly in favor of resumption, the Cumberland miners are against it, and Rotherham solidly against it, except at full schedule rates; The strike war in Warwickshire has collapsed. Ten thousand men are resuming work, as are also a number at Foresi Dean. Mr. Keir Hardie, speaking" at Bradford, said that there was no essential difference between syndicalism and socialism. Both desired to overthrow the present form of society. One lesson of the strike was that the commercial classes were realising that the mines and railways must become State property. Mr. Victor Grayson, speaking at Wigan, said that the miners were unable to expect substantial economic results from the present strike, but they had taught statesmen that the working classes mattered. The Government had deceived them with a Bill cunningly conceived and drafted by clever statesmen, collaborating with rich capitalists. Mr. Snowden, speaking at Oldham, said that the concessions to the miners had been wrung from the Government. The situation was full of illimitable possibilities. If it was right that the miner should have a minimum guaranteed by the law, every worker was entitled to similar treatment. The Times states that the loss of wages through the strike is £11,870,000. Received 1, 9.15 p.m. London. April 1. An official of the London Carmen's Union, addressing a labor demonstration, declared that if Tom Mann was sent to prison for a single day the transport workers would strike. A LABORITE'S VIEWS. Received 2, 12.15 a.m. Sydney, April 1. Mr. Bell, organiser of the British Seamen's Union, says that the coal strikein England is a small symptom of the immense advance that has begun in the British labor movement. HELP I'uOMDTJNEDIN. By Telegraph—Press Association. Duncdin. Last Night. On Saturday morning the Ota go Daily Times opened a fund for the relief of the women and children who are suffering distress as a result of the miners' strike, in Britain. The response has been very gratifying, and up till to-night subscriptions amounting to about .£O7O had been received. A sum of £350 was sent to the Prime Minister this morning for transmission to England.