THE STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 April 1921, Page 5

THE STRIKE.

WORST CRISIS SINCE WAR. PARLIAMENT SUMMONED. DANGER OF SPREADING. TROUBLE IF TRAINS STOP. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received April 3, 5.5 p.m. London, April 2. A Royal proclamation summons Parliament for Monday. Undisclosed factors have caused the Government to take a most serious view of the crisis, which was formerly expected to be brief, but is now regarded as the gravest emergency since the outbreak of the war. Thousands of volunteers will be needed if the railwaymen and transport workers join the strikers. It is pointed out that the Government, owing to demobilisation, does not possess its former resources in the shape of military and motor transport, whereby it organised food distribution throughout the country during the railway strike in 1919. The Government must now rely on the community rising to the great emergency and placing its resources at the disposal of the authorities, so as to minimise the effects of the strike if it threatens food supplies and the disorganisation of industry.-Aus.-N-Z. Cable Assn. SiX MINES FLOODED. A DRASTIC ECONOMY ORDER. TRIPLE ALLIANCE URGED TO ACT. Received April 3, 11.5 p.m. London, April 2. Despite the efforts of officials and a few volunteers, mine floodings continue, involving the permanent ruin of six mines in Staffordshire. The Evening Standard states that an emergency order will be issued on Monday limiting householders to one hundredweight of coal weekly, and reducing factories, shops, and warehouses’ supplies of coal, electricity and gas, both for lighting and power, by 50 per cent. The order will also empower the weakening of the strength of gas and a reduction of street lighting to a minimum. It is understood the Government is preparing to commandeer all motor-cars throughout the country in order to ensure food supplies. Many branches of the Transporters’ and Railwaymen’s Unions have notified their headquarters demanding that the Triple Alliance act now or dissolve altogether. They contend that in the event of the miners being forced to revert to district bargaining they are sure to follow, losing the benefit of national settlements wofi during the war. Cable Aesn. MEANING OF THE STRIKE. INTIMIDATING THE GOVERNMENT. ATTEMPT TO FORCE SUBSIDY. Received April 3, 11.5 p.m. London, April 3. The statement made by Sir Robert Horne (President of the Board of Trade), has been issued to the newspapers. He asks: “Are the miners entitled to stop the coal mines because the Government will not grant a subsidy or because the owners will not agree to the pooling arrangement, by which the poorer mines would be subsidised out of the profits of the more successful companies? The strike is an attempt to intimidate the Government into granting a subsidy to the coal trade and impose thereon a bastard form of nationalisation, which will kill all incentive to industry.”

PERIL OF THE WATER. PUMP MEN FORCED. TO STRIKE. Received April 2, 5.5 p.m. London, April 1. The refusal of the miners to allow the pump men to work at Llwynpia pit, in Glamorgan, threatens to ruin t'he pit in two days, as 3000 gallons of water per minute are entering the pit.—Aus.and N.Z. Cable Assn. CONSERVING COAL SUPPLY. OTHER WORKERS IDLE Received April 2, 5.5 p.m. London, April 1 Owing to the coal stoppage 11,000 South Wales dockers are unemployed owing to the prohibition of the export of coal and coke. Long-distance passenger trains will be reduced 25 per cent, from Wednesday.— Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. STRIKERS J.ACK ENTHUSIASM. London, April 1. The strike is now in full swing, but pumping is being maintained at most mines. The Scottish miners frankly admit that they never entered, upon a strike with less enthusiasm. RACE MEETING SUSPENDED. Received April 3, 11.5 p.m. London, April 1. At the Government’s request there will be no racing at Warwick on Monday and Tuesday owing to the strike.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.