220,000 MEN OUT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1211, 21 August 1911, Page 5

220,000 MEN OUT.

NEARLY SIXTY THOUSAND TROOPS AVAILABLE. STRIKE PAY AUTHORISED. (Rec. August 20, 5.5 p.m.) London, August 20. The railway men's executive sat until midnight, and adjourned until this morning. Fifty-eight thousand troops have been placed at the disposal of tho military commanders within the striko areas. The Amalgamated Society .of Railway Servants has authorised strike pay at the rate of ten shillings weekly. The executive stato that 220,000 men are on strike, and predict that Monday will see nearly every servico stopped. Their union funds total .£197,556, and the provident funds, which axe not applicable for the support of the strikers, ■£243,625. The Home Office reports that about twothirds of the railwaymcn remain at their post. "The Times" declares that tho real issue is tlio admission of the union leaders to the Conciliation Boards. The North Eatftin Railway Company for a long time permitted such access, but that line has suffered moro than the others through the constant friction and the present strike. The Primate is preparing a special prayer for the Labour crisis. Labour Members' Views. Mr. J. 11. Thomas, labour member for Derby, and assistant secretary of the Railway Servants' Society, speaking at Euston, said that if the companies would meet the men face to face, they could seltlo the difficulties in five minutes. The com'panies had refused tho men's requests, and the only alternative was to fight. He regretted that the public and the trade of the nation was suffering, but the responsibility rested on tho companies. There would bo no settlement which victimised or boycotted anyone. ■

Mr. Ramsay MacDouald, and other members of the Labour party; urged the. men's executive to accept Mr, Asuuith's proposals. •