Labor and the War.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1915, Page 5

Labor and the War.

LLOYD GEORGE SPEAKS OUT. THE CONFLICT CANNOT CON'TiNTE. Received July 2"r, !).r>.") p.m. London, dub,- ix At the Newport confcr.i'.ee Mr". Lloyd George pointed out the extreme gravity of the situation, and the oll'eet of the strike upon the Continent. No Governnien could possibly allow a continuance of a conflict which imperilled the chances of victory. The conference did not arrive at a decision and adjourned until ten o'clock to-day, Mr. Lloyd George will meet the owner's at noon.

OUTLOOK MORE HOPEFUL. MR. LLOYD GEORGE AT CAKi.HI':-'. Received July '2O, fi.."> p.m. London, July In. The coal difficulty seems more hope.iil. Members of the executive were a'bout to leave Cardiff for London, it i.°, believed to bring a new suggestion of settlement. Mr. llunciman stopped the deputation subsequently, as the outcome o'i a Cabinet d'iseussion:. Mir. Lloyd, (.leorge, accompanied by Mr. Runeiman and Mr. Arthur Henderson, has left for' Cardiff. Mr. Runeiman, in the House of Commons, stilted that the rise in the price c.f coal represented' about twenty milTons for tlie year. The Bill would not preclude the Chancellor of the Exchequer hying hand's oii tile war profits of any industry.-

SORRY' THEY STRUCK. THE M'OVING SPIRITS. Received July 20, 11.5 p.m. London. July 20. The oliler men in South Wales regret the- strike, almost to a man; Many are dejected and shamefaced, feeling the odious position in which they arc placet!', but they declare that unless they get tSieir' rights- HOW their smaller demands after peace is declared ■will enable theemployers to treat them worse. Even tlie most of the men 1 admit tli'ey aresorry they struck, but add that they 'will not give in now;. The belief that the companies are .making fabulous fortunes is universal, though there is no evidence of" the fact'.. The moving spirits are a little band of Syndicalists, wh 0 are out to wreck society, but fear to put their views to the. test of a general ballot. The general impression is that Mr. Lloyd George will find a way of making easy the retreat of the miners from an impossible position,

THE COAL BILL. PREVRXTIOX OF ABNORMAL PRICKS. Received July 20, 8,20 p.m. London, July 20. In the House of Commons the Coal Bill was read a second time. Jlr. Runchnan stated that owing, to the enlistment of one out of every five miners, the output for the January to June period of 1915 was 127' A million tons, whereas for the same period in 101-t it was 142 million tons. The Bill, he said, was a rougli and ready method of preventing abnormal prices. The average, extra cost, in consequence of war bonuses, would be between ninepence and one shilling. He had not discovered a coal ring among London retailers, who had permitted him to examine their books and had agreed to a maximum price for the summer, and were prepared to make a similar arrangement for the winter. It was therefore unfair to fix arbitrarily a standard price. He hoped the So'ith Wale, settlement would be stable and peaceful; every other coalfield had agreed to tlic arrangements made for the war. Sir A. B. Markham urged ilr. Runciman to fix a maximum retail price, otherwise, the middlemen would tlecce the poor.

Mr. Lloyd George had an enthusiastic welcome at Newport, where the Cabinet members immediately conferred with the miners' executive.

STRIKE IN AMERICA. TROUBLE IN MUNITION FACTORIES. New York, July 1!). A strike at the Remington arms and cartridge factories at Bridgeport, employing twelve thousand men, begins today, involving twielve additional factories engaged in sub-contracts. The agitators arc proceeding to Newhaven to bring out the. Manchester Company's employees. The same agitators have been active, in New England, causing disputes wherever munitions are inanu-

factum!. Universal strikes would have a disastrous effect on ammunition contracts, and would be especially serious a,t Bridgeport, wh'fch is the leading ammunition centre.

The labor leaders declare that they arc merely using a golden opportunity! to obtain an eight hours' day and increased wages. The employers insist that secret agencies are responsible. Mr. Gompers, the Labor leader, charges German agitators with stirring up trouble,, and asserts that they attempted to bribe, the Bridgeport labor leaders.

THE PRICE OF COAL. PROTEST BY PIT OWNER. London, July 20. Mr. Runciman moved the second reading of the Coal Limitation of Prices Bill. Sir J. Walton moved its rejection, on the {•round that it penalised one industry and allowed other huge profitmaking industries to go free. ■SITUATION NOT IMPROVED. London, July lfl. The eoal strike situation lias not improved. •MECHANICS WANTED. Sydney, July; 20. Mr. Dengate, organiser for the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, states that VickerS', Son and Maxim urgently need a thousand trained mechanics, and are ■willing to pay their fares both ■ways, VICTORIAN MUNITIONS COMMITTEE Melbourne, July 20. At Mr. Fisher's request a State subcommittee to supervise munitions work in Victoria has 'been appointed. It consists of Messrs Maekinnon, Hagclthorne ■ and IV.ullietl.