THE COAL STRIKE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10592, 26 March 1912, Page 5

THE COAL STRIKE

CABLE NEWS

(United Preu Association—By i:ie&trie Telegraph—Copyright.)

MINERS DISSATISFIED WITH BILL

SCHEDULE MUST BE INCORPORATED. (Received Last Night, 11 o'clock). LONDON, March 24. Addressing five thousand miners at Castlehord, Mr Herbert Smith, President of the Miners' Association, said that no Tory Government could introduce a worse Bill than that introduced by the Government. They were not going to mark time to the tune of os a day. The meeting resolved that the schedule must be incorporated in the Bill.

| SYNDICALISM DENOUNCED. ■ Mr Ramsay Macdonald, Leader of , the Labour Party, speaking at BradJowl, denounced Syndicalism, which > he said, opened tiho door to the worst form of reaction. A minimum must b« mserted in the Bill if the strike was f o be settled. THE MILITARY. Mr F W Jowett, Labour M.P. fov Bradford West, speaking at the same meeting, said that if the military were called out, it would be their duty not to shoot. Tsie military had enlisted solely-to figbt a foreign foe, and not to shoot an unarmed crowd of their fellow-countrymen. ANOTHER LABOUR MEMBER. Mr Albert Stanley, Labour M.P. for Staffordshire West, speaking at Stoke, said a short, sharp period of suffering was better than the masses grovelling in poverty and distress while a few made millions. NOT SYNDICALISM. Mr J. Thomas, Labour M.P. for Derby, speaking at Newcastle, said the coal strike was not a result of syndicalism, wlhich was horrible to contemplate.. It would assuredly lead to disaster.. The workers had agreed thai Sir Edward Grey and Mr ; Balfour were right tEat the minimum could not be iconftiaed:to miners;'-"'.- : : : -;: v, r- Mr in,4a suggest:_gd -that if .the: withdrawn tb'*" strike would end! " l ■",. ■'•.._''..._ - ; A %LUNTARY AGREEMENT.

The masters and men in each districtin South Wales are voluntarily agreeing to an all round minimum living wage of five shillings for adults (except old and infirm), and two shillings for boys.

COST TO THE NATION

TEN MILLION WEEKLY

(Received This Morning, 12.5 o'clock.)

LONDON, March 25. Professor H. S. Jevons states that the strike is costing the nation about £10,000,000 weekly.

COLLIERS RETDHN TO WORK.

FATAL ACCIDENTS

LOSS "OF WORKING- DAYS AND WAGES. Received Tliis Morning, 12.5 o'clock. LONDON, March 25. Three hundred colliers at Chirk, in North Wales;'have returned to work. A number of accidents, several fatal, have occurred amongst the unemployed miners, who v ere getting coal from the outcrop seams, in various districts. One was killed and nine injured at the Westbowling mine, in Bradford. The minors "■ have lost 23,000,000 working days, and £2,350,000 in wages. Tiie daily loss in wages now amounts 'to £700,000. The masters in South Wales explain, that two shillings for boys is a small matter, but five shillings for adult* is important ,as the'men merely fill tubes With, rubbish. The demand is really levelled at securing the raising of the wages of skilled day labourers. The latter will afterwards demand that the present margin for skilled and unskilled men be preserved.

Many hewers are only paying their adult assistants three and sixpence daily.