MINERS' CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1920, Page 5

MINERS' CRISIS.

A STRIKE INEVITABLE. MEN'S DEMANDS UNALTERED. By T«l»n»Ph.—Preu Awn— Copyright. Received Sept. 12, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 11. • Sir Robert Home (President of the Board of Trade), interviewed, declared a stride was inevitable if the miners refused to abate their demands, which wire unjust. The Government was menaced by an industrial strike for poetical reasons. . The Trade Union Congress has closed. Mr, J. JI, Thomas, M.P. (general secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen), was head of the list in the election of the Parliamentary Committee, while it is significant that Mr. R. ■ Smillje/ (President of the Miners' Federation), who was not a member of the old committee, was elected by a big vote. ' Mr. Thojjas, in his closing speech, emphasised'the need for trade union unity iOr view. O.L the difficulties of the next few weeks. They must not allow prejudice or bias to influence their de- - dshsa. They were not enemies of their country; they loved their country, but' the country could not be made great and happy.by bloodshed on the battle•i (field. ; Tfeat was best attained by giving * iconrfort to cottage homes. During the iy - next" few weeks every word and action '•■• thould be fought out. Whilst they were ? determined to do justice to their own -• class 'they were • equally determined to keep In mind, the interests of the whole community'.—Reuter Service. " SPREAD OP UNREST. LABOR PAPER FIXES BLAME. 4 REMARKABLE STATEMENT. ► Received Sept. 12, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 11. The Labor newspaper Democrats, edited by Mr. Appleton (secretary of the Gederai Federation of Trade Unions) states it is not fair for Mr. Thomas to say that the trusts and combinations of capital formed in self-defence should not exist to the prejudice of the public, when vast combinations of Labor, originally formed, for self-defence, are rapidly becoming predatory bodies, making life impossible for the rest of us. The paper adds: It is only necessary to notice the number of strikes and the number of would-be producers who are unable to produce, because those immediately in front or behind them have ceased to work. Labor itself has become a very serious ' menace to those sections of the workers who would work if given, a chance. It is only necessary to listfen to the wild talk going on—the threats; of revolution and socialisation, tie" threats of anything and everything except settling down to work and letting other people work—to realise who has really stood in the way of production at this critical time.

Mr, Bromley (secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers) and Mr. Williams (general secretary of the Transport: Workers' Federation) and other delegates at the Trades Union ♦Congms attacked Mr. Appleton, accusing him of scurrilous abuse of tire wage movement, and persistent attacks on the j tripfo alliance, and the vilification of Mr. Smillie.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. STRIKE NOTICES IN. JONERS NOT UNANIMOUS. Received Sept. 13, 12.30 am. London, Sept. 12. The News of the World and the Sunday Times urge the summoning of Parliament in view of the coal crisis. The miners' strike notices have been sent in, hot a substantial percentage in the .Wiymneg Valley withheld theirs, while considerable hesitation and indifference is shown in Yorkshire and part* of Northumberland. Hopes are now centred in the miners' eieeutrve; meeting in London on Tues-day.—Au».-N.Z. Cable Assn. THREAT TO EOOD. SUPPLY WILL BE RESTRICTED. Received Sept. 13, 12.30 a.m. London, Sept. 12. Mr. O. 1. MeCurdy (the Food Controller) says that while a strike in a great key industry like coal mining must lead to hardship, he is satisfied, given the loyal co-operation of the community, .and a general determination to maintain civil older, the arrangements made will secure ths country adequate, if restricted, supplies of food.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. STRIKE MAY SPREAD. CANADIANS ASKED TO STRIKE. Received Sept. 13, 12.80 a.m. Ottawa, Sept. 12. According to a message from Calgary the One Big Union Convention received a cablegram from Mr. Robert Smillie demanding simultaneous action with the English miners to bring about a general strike on September 28. The convention will appoint a committee to consider the matter. Both the Alberta and Nova Scotia miners have been advised regarding Mr. SmiUte's message.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Ann.