THE STRIKE IN BRITAIN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 296, 11 June 1912, Page 5

THE STRIKE IN BRITAIN

GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, June 9. If to-morrow's strike negotiations fail it ia expected that the Government will promptly force legislation through Parliament. Government supporters emphasise the urgency of preventing the London struggle spreading to other ports, by legislating if necessary on the minimum wage, as in th ■ rase of mines. Ben Tillett, at a mating at Tower Hill, said that the national strike was intended to keep blacklegs out of London. In the event of a national strike they would be required in their own towns to keep work going.

EMPLOYERS STAND FIRM. A RISE IN BREAD. STRIKE IN LANCASHIRE. Received 10, 11.30 p.m. London, June 10. A leading employer states that the masters declined to hold any communication with the present transport leaders. Should the men appoint new- leaders, doubtless the employers would reconsider their present unalterable attitude. Mr. Gosling, speaking at Tower Hill, said that they wanted a standard wage for all the Port of London men, but were unable to compulsorily arbitrate. Mr. Thorne urged the immediate picketing of railway stations and Smithfield to prevent the handling of meat. Lord Lansbury said that if the Government really wished to keep open the food supplies it should abolish the Port of London Authority and replace it with a board representing the masters and men equally. Owing to the strike the quarter-loaf is a halfpenny dearer, Twelve thousand weavers in Lancashire, objecting to thqf use of trade union funds for political purposes, decided to secede from the/Northern Weavers' Amalgamation ana form a Lancashire Amalgamation.