BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1915, Page 5

BRITAIN.

THE COAL STRIKE. MEN SCORE A WIN. CRITICAL SITUATION TACTFULLY HANDLED. ■on ■ London, August 31. I riTto •]?!•«£$ Bureau announces that jhe ,:r Ctafeionce has arrived at a settle--■s *he coalowners, desiring to ■ ':<■■■■■ .the difficulties of the situation as I; ,etplaiw*l by Ministers, and witjt a view ■.a * fl®*l settlement, expressed willingtp agree to the following settlement:—The mineral agreement already included, at- Cardiff shall be signed fwthwith,7,and, after this has been done, the owners will conclude a supt pjemeutal agreement for paying a bonus c in turn to enginemen and others not included In the general agreement. The miners' delegates unanimously underJ#* to recommend,the workmen to ac- , c<st the proposal. The men':i repremtatives asked that the new wages should operate from July 22. The coal-owners suggested September 1, and .eventually both agreed to August 21. The settlement is regarded as a complete victory for the men. Representatives of the miners and coal-owners met at the Board of Trade at 10 o'clock. The coal-owners at midday left, leaving Mr. Runciman and the miners' deputation to negotiate their differences, the owners announcing that they were ready to accept the Government's decision. Interviewed during the lunoli interval, the miners' leaders threatened a national stoppage unless a settlement was readied forthwith. It was evident that the angry feeling was growing during the negotiations. The situation at this moment was more critical owing to a conference representing 11,850 miners meeting at Cardiff. A large section -was in favor of the men downing tools without awaiting the London deputation's report. The conference Anally passed a resolution in favor of awaiting the recommendation of the Lond(si deputation. The voting was 13f4 against and 1128 in favor of immediately. downing tools, later in the afternoon Mr. Runciman dramatically recalled the owners who were returning to South Wales, and an agreement was reached at 4.30 o'clock, after Messrs Lloyd George, Runciman and Henderson had finally interviewed the miners.

THE SKY CLEARED. "MINERS WILL DO THEIR DUTY." Received September 1, 9.40 p.m. . London, Sept. 1. The voting at Cardiff was 62,220 in favor of continuance of work and acceptance of the delegates' recommendation, and 56,400 in favor of "down tools.'' Probably 17,000 miners will still be idle until after Wednesday's conference because they resolved to strike on Tuesday until they were informed officially that the dispute was settled. Mr. Winstone, interviewed, said he believed that the new terms were acceptable and had righted a long standing injustie*. They ought to ensure peace in South Wale.? until, at least, the war was over. It had required much patience, perseverance and forbearance on both sides to clear up what was undoubtedlv a misunderstanding. "Tell the Allies," •he said, "that the miners will do their duty."

BRITISH HARVEST. REPORT OF MILLERS COM--UITTEE. Prick of wheat not hxed. Received September 1, 8.45 p.m. London, September 1. Die first interim report of the Milf;f. lers Committee recommended guaran- ,,,, teeing the farmers a minimum of 45s for wheat, but this was since negatived. ( Tlie Committee found that the only method of substantially increasing the British 19ifi harvest was tin: cultivation of some poorer gr»>,» land, without the output of meat, milk, ;and the capacity to maintain live stocic. The Committee was of opinion that a guarantee would result in an increase of wheat acreage from the present two million acres to three millions, giving si> weeks' additional supply to the whole of the United Kingdom. The guarantee would involve higher wages for the farm laborer, and greater employment, but there would be no such sciious labor shortage as to render the jji'oposal impracticable. The Committee sugge.ted to the Government that farmers should organise for obtaining supplies of manuro and labor-saving machinery, and they believed many farmers would respond to such an appeal in the national interest, even at the sacrifice of the certainty of present profits. The committee refrained froa lfccouimending a fixed maximum nr'ca at nhicli the Government might our. because this might dislocate trade and check importation.

A ZINC CONTRACT.

.QUESTION OF ABROGATION. London, August 31. In the King's Bench the Zinc Corporation 13 asking for a declaration that the contract in April, 1914, to sell between three and four hundred thousand tons of spelter to Hirach and Son, of Halberstadt, be abrogated by the war. Defendants plead that the contract is merely suspended during the war. Mr. Govett, chairman of the corporation, gave evidence that the total output of the world was between eight hundred thousand and a million tons, of which Germany refined 350,000 tons. The Zinc Corporation urged that nobody would be inclined to spend half a million for the erection of refineries in ■war time only. Unless the German agreement was void the mines would be compelled to close, involving hundreds of thousands sterling. The holding up of a huge stock of spelter would be prejudicial to England, therefore the contract was void by common law. Judgment was reserved. WOMEN AS MUNITION WORKERS. THEIR INTRODUCTION SUCCEEDS. Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, August 31. The Liverpool munition factories are cautiously absorbing women, who quickly adapt themselves to the lathe and do lighter turning as well a3 men. The new factories being erected -will, in some instances, be manned almost entirely by women.

ANOTHER DEMAND. TIN-PLATE WORKERS DISSATISFIED. London, August 31. Welsh tin-plate workers are demanding an increase of 15 per cent, in wages. GERMAN DIPLOMACY. ANOTHER SHOWING UP. BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE STATEMENT.

Received Sept. 1, 5.5 p.m. London, August 91. The Foreign Office statement, in reply to the article in the Norddeutsche Allgeineine Zcitung states that Ilcrr von Bethinann-Hollweg sketched to Lord Ilaldane live clauses, to the effect that neither party should prepare to make an unprovoked attack or join a combination against the other for the purpose of aggression, and if either became entangled in a war in which it cannot be said to be the aggressoir, the other party will at least observe a benevolent neutrality, and use his utmost endeavor to localise the conflict. 7f cither was forced to go to war by obvious provocation from a third party, they could hind themselves to exchange views concerning their attitude. This duty of neutrality is void if not reconcilable with any existing agreement. The making of a new agreement rendering it impossible for either party to observe neutrality is excluded. These conditions, although apparently fair, were really grossly one-sided. Germany, owing to treaties, would remain free to support her friends, but Britain would be forbidden to raise a finger to defend hers. Sir Edward Grey therefore rejected them. Sir Edwajd Grey oil March 11 offered a formula, which the Cabinet approved, to the effect that England wonM not make an unprovoked attack on Germany.

| It finally became obvious that Germany's real object was to obtain England's neutrality in all eventualities arid if war broke out Germany would certainly contend it was forced on her. An admirable example is this present war, wh'di Germany contends was forced upon lie:'. Italy, though Germany's ally, with special sources of information, does not share Germany's view regarding this aggressive war. Count Metternich's instructions showed that Ilerr von Betlimann-Hollweg would only recommend the Kaiser to civc up the essence of the Navy Ri'll if Britain guaranteed absolute" neutrality. The negotiations thus concluded, the Navy Bill proceeded, and the hope of a mutual reduction of armaments ended. IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL SERVICE. Beceived Sept. 2, 1 a.m London, Sept. I. The Council of the Colonial Institute unanimously resolved to support whatever measures th© Government may take in regard to national service-

PRO-GERMAN COMMENT.

INF THE NOETHCLIFFE PAPERS, COLONEL PPINGTON'S IDEAS., (Times and Sydney San Services.) Received Sept, 1, 7.35 p.m. ■Loudon, Sept. 1. Colonel Repington says that tie military direction of the war on the British side has not been happy, or particularly fortunate. Since the initial decision in August, 1914, we incroaaed our force in France, but in other improvisations the Cabinet has shown, conspicuously, an absence of genius for war, and we have merely drifted, ungoverned in a strategic sense. lie specifies the unorganised munition supply, and the failure to adopt national service. The landing at Antwerp was a fiasco, and he says that the Dardanelles expedition, wliioh was directed from London, was done in an amateur scatter-brained fashion, lacking the elements of surprise and impetuosity that were necessary to carry it through successfully. METAL FOR MUNITIONS. PROPOSAL TO BUY HOUSEHOLD ARTICLES, Received Sept. 1, 10.35 p.m.

London, Sept. 1. In view of the report that the German Government is paying two hundred pounda per ton for householders' copper and other metal articles at collecting depots, the Daily Express appeals to the Government to inaugurate a similar campaign, and states that a million pounds' worth of copper, tin, and zinc articles, required for the war, arc going to waste. People would willingly surrender these if they knew they would be turned into shells for cartridges,

LOYAL PAPERWORKERS. SNUtB A GERMAN' PROPOSAL. Received Sept. 1, 10.35 p.m. London, Sept. 1. The National Union of Papenvorkers has declined an invitation from the German and Austrian federations to attend a conference in Switzerland for the purpose of revising international organisations, stating that the Union liaa decided never to again sit in conference with representatives of a nation which applauded the murders of 1400 unarmed men, women, and children on board the Lusitania. It is proopsed to call a conference in London or Paris, to institute a, new international secretariat, excluding German and Austrian organisations.