THE STRIKE IN BRITAIN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 297, 12 June 1912, Page 5

THE STRIKE IN BRITAIN

i$- APPEAL FOR FUNDS. Pjy Cable—Press Association—Copyright ! London, June 10. The Transport Workers' Federation appeals for funds. It declares that 100,000 men are concerned in the dispute, and 300,000 women and children ■eed maintenance. Several relief com■rittees have already been organised. ; PROTECTION OF FREE LABOR. London, June 10. Th» Shipping Federation protested to the Prime Minister against Mr. McKenna's refusal to protect free labor, as encouragement by the Government of lawless interference with the rights of oitizenship. GENERAL STOPPAGE THREATENED. London, June 10. The employers have rejected the Government proposals and the national executive of transporters has telegraphed to all centres recommending an immediate general stoppage. DEADLOCK CONTINUES. STRIKERS ARMING. London, June 10. The shipowners have decided that it is impracticable to federate. A return to Work must precede negotiations for a settlement. At a meeting at Tower Hill a thousand strikers who had served as regulars or territorials volunteered as a ■trikers' civilian force. Ben Tillet advised them to arm with the biggest cudgels they could find. THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS.

REJECTED BY THE EMPLOYERS. Received 11. 9.30 p.m. London, June 11. .. The employers' representatives conferred with the members of the Cabinet, to whom they handed a collective reply to the effect that while they recognised lhat the provision of a substantial cash deposit would afford a better safeguard than formerly, the scheme would not achieve the end the Government proposed. It was absolutely impracticable to federate the employers efficiently as a whole or in sections, even if legislation was obtained. The foreign shipowners, who constituted a large element of the trade at the Port of London, would, under treaty rights, be unaffected; therefore Britishers would be at a disadvantage. The scheme did not provide for the representation of non-unionists. The port labor question was so complicated that it required exhaustive discussion to ensure a permanent settlement. This was only possible after work had been resumed. The employers are not prepared to make counter proposals, and are unable to agree to the principle underlying the Government's proposal.

A LABOR MANIFESTO. DIFFERENCES OF OPINION. ' Received 11, 11.35 p.m. London, June 9. The Strike Committee, in a manifesto, states that it exhausted all means to prevent the strike. It had vainly endeavored for eight months to enforce contracts with the employers. The latter mostly failed to carry out their contracts honorably, and invariably federated to defeat organised labor. Now they have refused the security of a money guarantee. It appeals to all other ports to join the strike, and also for financial support from other trades unionists. Mr. Wright, chairman of the Sailors' and Firemen's Executive, warned members against obeying the transporters' call until a ballot has been taken. The Barry dockers unanimously refused to obey the summons for a general strike. The Manchester dockers are enthusiastic for a strike. Mr. Millar, a delegate of the National Union of Labor, speaking at Newcastle, said that they had not been consulted with regard to the dispute and had no quaTrel with the employers. Mr. Gosling had no authority to include the North-East Coast in a national strike. Many large employers besides the Shipping Federation have protested against Mr. McKenna's refusal of protection. In the House of Commons Mr. McKenna stated that so far as the resources of the police extended, protection would be given to unionist and non-unionist workers alike, in such manner and under such conditions as appear least likely to lead to a breach of the peace. Mr. Austen Chamberlain will to-day move a motion censuring Mr. McKenna.