THE COAL STRIKE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10578, 8 March 1912, Page 5

THE COAL STRIKE

GRIP TIGHTENING on other Industries, no sign of settlement. (Received Last Night, 10.30 o'olock.) . LONDON, March 7. The strike situation is unchanged. There are no signs of yielding. The strike is slowly tightening its grip on every industry. The Trades' Union leaders are anxious in regard to the depletion of funds through the numbers rendered idle in tho various industries. The Amalgamated Railway Srvants Society is faced writh £20,000 weekly for unemployed pay. Tho Amalgamated Executive, in reply to certain branches, declares that in view of tho miners favourable position there is no reason for combined action. The committee add that they, are unable to sanction the refusal to work troop trains, and also forbade the Bermondsey branch, which is under syndicalist influences, to hold demonstrations in Trafalgar Square in reference to tho miners' strike. Two colleries at Swansea are flooded, owing to the men refusing to pump. At Bishop Auckland the collieries have closed permanently. Four hundred Oxford undergraduates offered their services to work the mines. The cutting off of the electrical supply at Sheffield in the daytime has thrown idle many factories. At Aberdeen the lighting on the tramiway services is being curtailed. At Oammell Lairds's, Birkenhead, 1500 engineers hlave struck for a shilling increase. The firm declare that if they are expected to pay higher wages than they do elsewhere, they must recognise that the Mersey is no more suitable for shipbuilding than the Thames, and make arrangements accordingly. MINERS ENJOY THEMSELVES. (Received March 7,10.30 a.m.) LONDON, March-6. Many. _ aoad.-Derbyshire^ miuerf. attended the Exeter races.'. '■ Blackpool is'.full of 'visiters, well supplied with money. Thr^li^n"dred ( pit hoj-s at Sunderland "raided a paddock,, seized; a. pitpony apiece, and executed a wild midnight gallop through the villages. Many Yorkshire ; miners are following the hounds on foot. Tho gramaphone shops in Wales are crowded. Picture theatres at Ponty Prid are open continuously. WliolesaOe houses arc refusing to supply tradesmen in mining communities except for cash, and many shops are closing. The Industrial Council is considering the miners' 'schedule with the masters' figures. : The executive of the Miners' Federation has agreed to meet the Industro.il Council. Replying to Mr Ramsay Macdonn.ld in tho House of Commons/ the Prime Minister, Mr Asquith,_ said it was pure imagination to consider that the Government was going to introduce a Bill laying down a minimum wage. The strike position was very delicate and he hoped it would not be discussed in the House of Commons at present. The Government is meeting the men's representatives to-day.