LABOR’S CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1921, Page 5

LABOR’S CRISIS.

RAILWAYMEN RESTIVE. SECTIONAL STRIKE THREAT. LONDON DOCKERS SUPPORT MINERS. Bl Telegraph.—Press Assn—Copyright. Received April 18, 9.50 p.m. Loudon, April 18. Stormy meetings of miners in Scotland and Wales denounced the Triple Alliance leaders, especially Mr. J' H. Thomas, M.P. (the railwaymen’s leader). Sections of the railwaymen are restive. Mass meetings at Carlisle and Cardiff Strongly condemned the Alliance’s ac-’ tion. Two thousand men at Cardiff threaten a sectional strike unless the Alliance is immediately re-established. The London Dockers’ Union support the miners and refuse to bunker imported coal.—Times Service. Received April 18, 5.5 p.m. London, April 18. A mass meeting of South Welsh railwaymen at Cardiff demanded an immediate strike in support of the miners, >ut eventually it was decided to defer lotion for a week.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. BLACK FRIDAY. A SET-BACK TO LABOR. London, April 17. There were many meetings of miners 10-day. Mr. Hartshorn characterised Friday is a Black Friday in the history of the British Labor movement. Noah Abblett, member of the miners’ pxecutive, addressing a mass meeting it Merthur, said they had lost the first pound of the fight, owing to the failure * »f their leaders in the so-called Unity Souse. MINERS DISMAYED. THREATS OF VIOLENCELondon, Apil 17. The miners’ leaders are out of town conferring with their dismayed followers on the coal-fields. There is the bitterest feeling among the miners at being left in the lurch by the railwaymen and transporters, especially as the exchequer is fast emptying and many families are approaching destitution, despite the shortness of the strike. The enap of snowy, frosty weather is increasing the hardships of many households which aue faced by a lack of coal, even in the mining districts. Many South Staffordshire oakers have coal for only two more days’ baking. In view of these circumstances there is I a general hope that the extremists will i see the folly of prolonging the struggle 1 when the delegates return to London 1 on Thursday. It is hoped they will have authority to partake in a conference on wages with the owners and the Government, who emphasise that all offers made are still open. The miners state that they have finished with the railwaymen and transporters and will never again work with them. Tha feeling throughout the country is acute. In some cases the miners are threatening the railwaymen with Violence. Meanwhile public opinion is reflected in all the newspapers excepting the ultra Conservative, which have swung round and express a strong belief that the miners should get considerably more Jhan the owners are offering. SANITY AT A CRISIS DOOR FOR SETTLEMENT OPEN. London, April 16. The general conclusion regarding the strike development is that the Communist element, though exceedingly vocal, represents a very small minority of the British workers, the great majority of whom are law-abiding citizens, whose voices are not neard in the deliberations of their unions, but whose weight is irresistibly felt at such a crisis as that just past. Mr. dynes predicts that the miners will put"up a bitter struggle, as they regard the* owners' proposals as indefensible. The Sunday Express lobby instates that the Government is considering new strike legislation, aimed primarily at direct action methods. The Government proposals for the settlement of the coal-dispute are still ppen. The owners are advertising their pffer, to their men.