Norwich bulletin., 1921-04-05
Industrial q |
 Threaten' itairl
Rumors of M Steps in Coal Strike Are Likely to Further Inhame the Miners and Railroad Workers.

London, April (By the A. P.).-The signs tonight point to the dispute between the coal miners and the government drifting in the direction of the most se- rious industrial crisis in recent years There are rumors that the government mas decided upon certain military steps which are likely still further to infame the miners, while further emergency reg uiations will be issued in accordance with orders in council giving the various gov ernmental departments almost unlimited powers to take possession of mines, lands, buildings, works, gas, electric and water supplies, horses, food and forage and to requlsitlon all kinds of transport includ- Ing tramWays and light railways, to close ports or harbors. control shipping and carSoes. fix prices of coal and prohibit or regulate the sale and supply of motor spirit.
 Much may depend upon the attitude of the government as revealed by the debate in the house of commons tomorrow, and Nednesday will be the critical day, de- clalng whether the other sections of the triple alliance, the railwaymen and transport workers, will strike in support of the miners.
 The rallWaymen strongly favor a strike on the ground that when the railways are taken out of government control a similar situation may arise, and unless they support the miners now they cannot expect the miners support should they need it at that time
 Moderate opinion is concentrating in favor of the suggestion offered on Satur- day by Alfred Bigland, coalition unionist
 mat the so-called decontrol bill should De rescinded and the time limit for. con. trol fixed for May 30, instead of March S1, thereby giving time for discussion and arrangement of the wages question and the education of the miners to th. real industrial position at home ant abroad.
 John Robert Clynes and Arthur Hen derson, the most independent of the lib erals, intend to press this suggestion upo1 the government tomorrow.
 It is believed that the government vii refuse to accept this suggestion and tha the premier will base his position upo, the simple proposition that it is impossi Die TOT the country in the present stat of it's finances to bear any further bur
 den in the shape of a subsidy to tn
 miners. It is not impossible that impor
 tant political developments may han,
 upon the triple decision Wednesday, The anti-governmental press openly ac
 cuses Premier Lloyd George of trying f.
 manoeuvre the labor party into a fals
 position whereby he could appeal to tn ! country against the labor policy of "di
 rect action and bolshevism.' Thes
 newspapers appeal to the labor leaders especially the miners, to abandon the ex treme policy of wrecking the mines b flooding and refusing all discussion of tn
 mine owners proposals. By their presen
 attitude, the paperss-say, they are .out playing into the preniers hands.
 MT. Lloyd George presided at a cabine committee meeting tonight. those in. al tendance including Sir Robert S. Horn, Sir Eric Geddes and T.<J. McSamar, to discuss the situation. which also wa considered by the parliamentary laho f party in consultation with the miner i leaders. c~----
 l The balance of opinion tonight is ths , the triple alliance will refrain from th l declaration of general strike until t IS certain that attempts at a peacef,
 settlement are hopeless. It is announce
 that the admiralty has cancelled a
 leave.