NEW THREAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1921, Page 5

NEW THREAT.

STRIKE OUTLOOK WORSE.

RAILWAYMEN WANT TO STOP. BRINK OF GRAVE UPHEAVAL. Bj Telegraph.—Fraas Assn—Copyright. London, May 10. The coal situation has reached an acute stage. The Australian Press Association learns on high authority that it may be necessary to mobilise the nation within seventy-two hours to cope with the position. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Received May 11, 5.5 p.m. * London, May 10. Mr. Smith (one of the miners’ leaders), at a mass meeting in Yorkshire, said though they could not abandon their principles the miners wanted to get out of the trouble, but they would not crawl out. If anything was put forward which they thought they could accept the executive would noT hesitate to take a ballot. It is expected the railwaymen’s executive will meet on Friday to decide their attitude in connection with foreign coal. Railwaymen in all parts of North England are urging the executive to call a national stoppage for Sunday.—Aus.-N-Z. Cable Assn. GREAT STRIKE MENACE. TRANSPORTERS AND RAILWAYMEN MILITARY GUARD PORTS. VOLUNTEERS UNLOAD COAL. Received May 11, 5.5 p.m. London, May 10. In view of Mr. Churchill’s ominous Btatements at a luncheon to Mr. McPherson, the newspapers regard the possibility of a transport strike as most serious. Railway extremists, taking advantage of the absence of Mr. J. H. Thomas (the railwaymen’s leader) in America, will try for a stoppage of both railwaymen and transporters. They believe they have the full support of their unions if they are suspended or discharged for assisting the miners’ executive.

The transporters had a four hours’ discussion this afternoon regarding the Scottish dockers’ demand for a general strike and also to decide whether they would support the ban on sea-borne coal. The executive passed a resolution to continue its policy and tighten the embargo on coal likely to defeat the miners The resolution continues: “To us, as trade unionists, sending foreign coal to Britain is morally the same as if the Government imported blacklegs to work the mines. We cannot be parties to handling this coal. We are consulting the railwaymen with a view to render the blockade even more effective.**

Meanwhile a Cabinet meeting decided to take the most resolute action in connection with coal for public utility services. Volunteers to-day unloaded seaj borne coal at London, Glasgow and Yarmouth under police protection. London and Yarmouth are under military guard. The Glasgow blockade against London has been successfully broken. The Daily Express says the transporters’ meeting was stormy, and there wa« a great divergence of opinion. The relations between Mr. Robert Williams (transporters' secretary) and Mr. C. T. Cramp (railwaymen’s leader) are also exceedingly strained.

Mr. Cramp is beginning to realise that he has landed himself in an extremely awkward mess as the leader of the National Union of Railwaymen in the absence of Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P. He is not sure of his executive or men. It is probable Mr. Cramp and some of his executive will seek an interview with Sir Eric Geddes (Minister of Transport) |o-day.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. • OIL COAL. ITS USE FOR LONDON TRAMS. MANUFACTURERS ADOPT IT. Received May 11, 5.5 p.m. London. May 10. The London County Council announce they are adapting the machinery at the Greenwich power station in order to use oil fuel instead of coal for trams. The change will commence at Whitsuntide. Manufacturers in the Midlands are (attempting to substitute oil for coal, which is cheaper to handle, but which hitherto has been too dear. Now the price of oil has been halved it will rival coal and the stoppage of coal has given oil a start which will not be easily won back. All over the country boilers are being converted and the results are better than expected.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MR. CHURCHILL’S VIEWS. GOOD OUTCOME EVENTUALLY. London, May 10. At a luncheon tendered to Mr. W. M. M'Pherson, Victorian Treasurer, at Stationers’ Hall, Mr. Winston Churchill, in proposing the health of the guest, dealt with the seriousness of the coal position, which it was clear could not continue indefinitely. The streets of great Industrial centres were crowded with workless people. It was a melancholy intuation. Our rivals and late enemies, even our friends, were actively pressing forward to take advantage of Britain’s follies. Even the coal necessary to maintain the life of our great eit»es was How menaced, and made the • ect of continuous attack. He wa-s conf-dent a good outcome would be reached for all parties eventually, but we are at a bad point at the present moment, calling for efforts similar to those when our lives were menaced in 1914. The community is greater than any section, and caniot be ruled by any section. A nation must assert itself, but when it has asserted itself it must show it does not wish to triumph over any section. We Should rememt-»r the part the miners played in the war, and no vindictive triumph should enter into the settlement.— Cable Assn.