THE COAL STRIKE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10591, 25 March 1912, Page 5

THE COAL STRIKE

CABLE NEWS

(United Press Association —By EUo trie Telegraph—Copyright.)

THE MINES BILL.

DEBATE CONTINUED

THE MINIMUM QUESTION

(Received Last Night, 5.5 o'clock.)

LONDON, March 23

The Prime Minister, the Right Hon. H. JI. Asquith said that if a minima was inserted in the Bill, there would be enormous difficulty in persuading the Board to entertain any other basis. Tlhe rejection of the minima would not imply that the amounts'were unreasonable. Mr Bonsu-Law stated that the miners 1 schedule has fixed in some districts a, rate of 4s lid, realising, that it could not afford five shillings. The fixing of a standard would increase the price of coal and close many of the mines. < Mr Ramsay Macdonald said that it was difficult to induce the men to resume without stating the amount. The men must have something definite, although willing to save their own full schedule.

Sir Edward Grey thought the Labour Party would act wisely and accept the measure on the understanding that they might have a conference of owners and men to settle the question of a minima. Mr Enoch Edward's amendment to insert the Federations schedule was.negatived by 367 votes to 55. Tho amendment had inserted the safeguarding of existing agreements for the payment of wages with a. higher minimum than might be fixed under tho Act. Hie Premier then; announced that he would adopt Sir Edward Grey's suggestion of a further conference on the minima before the report stage of the Bill.

ANOTHER CONFERENCE

HOPE FOR SETTLEMENT

DESTITUTION IN LEEDS, WOMENAND CHILDREN CRYIN G FOR FOOD. ' " (Received Last Night;" 5.5 o'clock.) LONDON, March 23. The Miners' Federation.at a meeting reaffirmed the demand for the inclusion of, a five shillings and two shillings minima in the Bill. The Premier states that the owners and men will confer on Monday. Mr Ramsay Macdonald, in an interview, said he' hoped that Monday would find the Bill unnecessary. The owners hint that if the Bill is passed as it stands they will, not reopen the mines until the Boards fix the minimum, and that possibly several will not re-open to work at a loss. TSie Surfacemen's Federation has notified the Labour Party that unless they are included in the minimum they will block the resumption. There is great destitution in Leeds, women and children crying for food. The authorities are doing their utmost to alleviate the sufferings ,

LAMENTABLE STORIES

HUNGER AND FIRELESS HOMES

MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN

FIGHTING FOR FOOD

(Received Last Night, 5.5 o'clock.)

LONDON, March 23. Many more Yorkshire .and. Lancashire mills *1 re closing down. An additional 5000 men have been rendered idle in Lancashire. Some of the Railway Companies are reducing the number of trains, and others are stopping Sunday trains. Men, women and children in Manchester are fighting for food. .Lamentable stories of hunger and tireless, homes are issuing from the northern towns.

Six hundred railway workers at Bangor, in Wales, have received notice. ■ The Westminster Gazette states that the Labour Party is deeply chagrined, expecting the Government to yield to tlie insertion of the minima in the Bill.