THE COAL STRIKE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10576, 6 March 1912, Page 5

THE COAL STRIKE

CABLE NEWS

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

50,000 MEN IDLE

IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES.

APPEAL FOR NATIONAL STRIKE

MANY RESOLUTIONS .

LONDON, March 5. In the various industries, 350,000 are idle, including 108,000 in the North of England, 62,000 in the Midlands, 70,000 in Wales, 6000 in the •Eastern Counties, 20,000 in the South of England, and 70,000 in Scotland. The Industrial Council discussed: the miners' crisis for two hours, ancl then adjourned. Seven hundred trains are suspended at Manchester. The railwaymen at Doncaster have resolved to strike if the Government threatens to coerce the miners. Similar resolutions will be moved in other railway centres. The railwaymen a-t Neasden have appealed for a- national railwaymen's strike in support of the miners. Some of the Derbyshire miners are wearying of the strike. The miners in North Wales are dissatisfied with the minimum of six shillings fixed by the Federation, instead of seven" shillings, and threaten to resume contrary 'o the Federation's recommendation. The miners have refused to allow several collieries in Northumberland to be kept in order. The miners at Whitburn, in Durham, have refused to permit ventilation, and pumping water from the pits, or feeding four hundred pontes. A COMPLETE DEADLOCK. THE MINERS JUSTIFIED. VIOLENCE TO BE AVOIDED. (Reaeived March 5, 8.35 a.m.) LONDON, March 4. Seven thousand engine builders and others, at Swindon; 5000 founders, at Leeds; 2000 shipyard hands, at Jarrow, and thousands of potters in- the Midlands have been rendered idile. The Premier's statement to-day regarding a .complete deadlock is awaited' with.' the 'keenest interest. Mr G. Roberts, the Labour Whip, declares that the••■ miners are justified in demanding the incoiporaiaon of a Minimum Wage Bill at rates represent ting a basfe of what they beli©v«l to be •right. tHe appealed to the workers to avoid violence. STATEMENT DENIED. ; : . OBSTACLE TO THE SETTLEMENT. AMOUNT OF WAGE DEMANDED. (Received March 5, 11 a.m.) LONDON, March 4. ' /V Replying to Mr Bonar Law, the Prime Minister denied the statement made by Mr Davis, a strike delegate, 'that tho Government would soon, make themselves responsible for the minimum wage for all industries. . He said he was not inj the habit of ' having sly flirtations with Socialism.. The obstacle to the settlement was tli'e amount of the minimum demanded. The owners had raised a number of formidable objections to the men's schedule, and urged that many- pits would have to be closed. It was impossible thiat the Government would ask Parliament to coerce the owners into accepting the very figures of the minimum. He warned the miners of the Microns responsibility, of entering on the course they had determined on. The Government felt compelled to pursue a. rigorous examination of the figures given by Both, parties.

TRANSPORT TRAINS IN READINESS. ■

(Received March 5, 11 a.m.) LONDON; March 4. Trains sufficient to transport twenty thousand troops are ready at Aldershot for an immediate start.

THE POSITION IN BELGIUM. ALL-ROUND ADVANCE DEMANDED. (Received March 5, 8.25 a.m.) BRUSSELS, March 4. The Miners' Federation has demanded an all-round advance in wages.