STRIKE THREAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1920, Page 5

STRIKE THREAT.

BRITISH COAL INDUSTRY. nationalisation question. i i By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Feb. 14, 12.5 a.m. London, Feb. 12. Mr. Hartshorn, Labor member in the l.ouse of Commons for Ogmore, says there will be a coal strike in six weeks' time. The issue of nationalisation must not be decided outside of Parliament. He predicted nationalisation would be passed within three months. «n the House of Commons, Mr. AV. Brace (Labor M.P.) moved a Lubbr amendment to the Address-in-Reply, regretting the absence of a proposal to nationalise the coal mines on the lines, recommended in the Sankey majority report. Mr. Lloyd George, replying, said nationalisation was impossible without bureaucracy. He contended it had not been shown that nationalisation was able, to produce the excellent and progressive results attained under private ownership. He ridiculed the idea that men worked harder for the State than in private interests, and referred to the unsatisfactory results of nationalisation in Bolshevist Russia, which were leading to compulsory labor. Nationalisation would discourage the development of the mining industry, because the present risks., frequently involving most considerable "'scs, would not-be undertaken under .tionalisation.—Aus.-NjZ. Cable Assn. Received Feb. 13, 2.5 p.m. • London, Feb. 12. In the House of Commons, Mr. Lloy 1 George said he contended the real aim of the Miners' Federation was to obtain control of the mines. That was not nationalisation. (Loud cheers). The handing over of this; great'national asset to one industry would be disaster to the community. . A Bill which the Government was going to introduce was designed to improve the mining industrial conditions, and give the miners a more effective voice in control; aiid an opportunity of contributing their experience and counsel to the management. Dealing with the extremist speech by the Laboritc, Mr. Lunn, Mr. Lloyd George said Mr. Lunn proposed that a privileged minority should dictate to the majority. The Premier declared, 'amid 'prolonged cheers: "On that issue we will fight to the death, for success would mean the establishment of ti Soviet and the end of constitutional government." Mr. Vejnon Hartshorn (Labor M.P.) warned the House that i { it rejected the miners' proposals the latter would take decisive action at an early conference. The amendment was defeated by 32 votes to 64.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.