Workers and the War.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1915, Page 5

Workers and the War.

! SOUTH WALES STRIKE, THE EXKC'I'TJVK HELPLESS. London, July IS. Hie despondency of the South"Wales miners' executive is returning. Respite their promise to meet Mr. Runciman and the coal-owners, thov have hitherto leit the affair in the hands of the Oovernment. The coal-owners have now arranged to meet Mr. Runciman on Monday. the miners leaders have arrived at no decision regarding strike pay, the of which would he a serious matter for the union, in view of the -Munitions Act. Wholesale dislocation of trade in the west is feared and several large works have already closed down. If the strike continues till 'Wednesday the coal stocks will be depleted hy a million tons.

There was unimportant riotiiig at Llanvlly and seven arrests were made.

FEMALE EMPLOYMENT INCREASING

Received July HI, 7.30 p.m, London, June 19. The Trade and Labor Gazette states that the increasing number of enlistments have made an active demand for hiboT. Owing to the requirements of the. Allies there lias been caused a shortage of labor in many industries, and there is now very little unemplojiment, except in ft few luxurious and other trades which are adversely affected by the w;ir. The transference from one trade to another, and the substitution of female for male labor, is extending. The German Gazette declares that employment ill, the majority of industries is perfectly satisfactory. May returns show that the number of men applying for work had decreased by seventy per cent, and females had increased by fifty per cent, in Britain. The Bureau report shows that employment of women is enormously inereas-

THE OirXEUS ADAMANT. a serious rosrnox. Received July 20, 12.20 a.m. London, July 1!). The majority of miners, in conversation, hotly resent the imputations of not being .patriotic, pointing out the number of miners who have Most, of their lenders have sons in the army, the majority nolding commissions, 'I hey have received an unpleasant shock owing to the announcement that there -will V no .strike pay. The South Wales war chest only contains a week's strike pay, and there is no likelihood of the strikers receiving assistance from the Miners' Federation and other trade unions. Most of the men are still convinced that at this hour of national crisis they have the country at their merov.

There is a widespread impression in South Wales that the Government will concede all the men's terms except tlio stipulation for a three years' agreement. The matters in dispute will be then referred to a tribunal under the-Muni-tions Act, which will decide regarding the marginal differences 'between Mr! Runvnman's awards and the men's full demands. The miners would then have the right to ratify or reject -the new agreement, when arranged. Mr. Tom Richards, .M.P.. and Mr. Vernon Hartshorn state that the men believe that the masters have iplayed upon their patriotism, in order to induce them to accept unwelcome terms. They believe that the Government has been pulled by the employers, who are now relying on the Government to force the men into the ipits.

ANXIETY IN FRANCE. Paris, Jul}' 19. The crisis in South Wales is anxious? being followed in France, where the German occupation of the Department ef Nord haa decreased the 'French ou'.nut 'fry thirty million tons. France is reiving on (Britain to malce up the deficiency. Fi-wwh miners have stopped ail holidays, and accepted an extension of houn without a murmur, although the con. dltions are already telling on their health and strength, T.o Ga.uiois suggests that the -South Wales minerg aie being cleverly exploited bv German agents. JOY IN" THE ENEMY CAMP. . Berne, July 10. There are jubilations in German v and Austria, over the c-oal strike. FRENCH OPINION. Paris, .Tiilv IS. M. Custav Herve, in Guerre Soeiale, denounces the Sontli Wales strike as high treason against England, France, and all the Allies. WORK. FOR DISCHARGED SOLDIERS. London, .Inly 18. The (Hoard of Agriculture has ap. -pointed a committee, under the presidency of Sir Harry Verncv, M.P., to promote the settlement of discharged soldier* and sailors on the land in England and Wales. trouble at krupp's. London. July 17. Munich advices state that disputes have arisen in several departments of Krupp's. owing to the hU:h cost of living. The military authorities have informed the management that they will not tolerate