RIOTS CONTINUE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1214, 24 August 1911, Page 5

RIOTS CONTINUE.

WELSH JEWS FLEE. THE STRIKE COMMISSION MEETS. DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT. By Telejraph-Frtss Association— Copyright (Rec. August 23, 10.55 p.m.) London, August' 22. The Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, in moving the adjournment of the House ot Commons until October 21, announced that the Railway Commission had been constituted (is follows:— Sir David Harrel (chairman). Sir Thomas Ellis, secretary of the Fed--1 erated Coal-owners' Association. Mr. Beale, solicitor of the Midland Railway. Mr. Arthur Henderson, Labour M.P. for Barnard Castle. Mr. Burnett, Labour Correspondent for the Board of Trade. The Great Point. Mr. Asquith declared that the clouds had lifted. Both parties had to an immediate investigation by an impartial tribunal, and tho great point today was not to apportion praise or blame, but to make the settlement effective. The members of the Commission, should be enabled to start freely and fairly on their most responsible mission. The House cheered when tho name of Mr. A. Henderson, Labour M.P. lor Durham (Barnard Castle) was mentioned, the majority welcoming his inclusion on tho committee as a guarantee that peace was in sight. Mr. Churchill Attacked. Mr. Ramsay Macdonald expressed himself as satisfied with tho personnel of tho Commission, and said the settlement would bo a good one if it was honestly fulfilled. He accused the Home Office of playing a diabolical part in the whole unrest. Mr. Churchill's strike, bulletins were inaccurate and gave great offence, making the men more disinclined to come to a settlement. Mr. Churchill's fussy interference was based on a desire to see himself in print. Better Conditions Needed. Mr. G. N. Barnos, Labour member for the Blackfriars Division of Glasgow, stated that ho bad just been to MerthyrTydvil, Pontypridd, and Newport. The men there werp keenly dissatisfied with the settlement. Ho trusted the Commission would concern itself with the need for increased wages, reduced hours, and better living conditions. Otherwise, there would be another railway strike. He would do everything: to help it. Home Office Defended. Mr. Churchill, in reply, said he had done his obvious duty in enforcing obedience lo tho laws. The Government had no alternative. Had the strike lasted a week there would have been a total cessation of employment, implying starvation. The emergency justified the measures taken. These were absolutely constitutional. Tho Government was bound to use tho whole power of the Stato to protect the nation's food supply and the transport of goods. The task set tho military of keeping the railways'running and protecting workers had averted incalculable disaster. Mr. Austen Chambeilain (Unionist) assured the Government of Opposition support in protecting free workers against intimidation. ~.■'.. Mr. Keir Hardie (Labour) violently attacked tho Government for t'he employ, ment of troops in connection with the strikes. Mr. Lloyd-George, Chancellor of tho Exchequer, indignantly' repudiated the accusation that the Government sided with the capitalists. He characterised Mr. Keir Hardie's attack as contemptible. Movement of Troops, Mr. Churchill, in reply to questions, declared that he had informed tho Lord Mayor of Liveipool that it was not intended to relax the military and police precautions while the necessity existed. Regarding the dispatch of the military to Blackburn before the civil authority had been consulted, Mr. Churchill said troops were sent by the general officer commanding the district, in pursuance of the schemo to protect the' railways and maintain law and order. The officers commanding were given completo direction in those respects, ami the military authorities always enjoyed the right of moving troops about the country where it was thought convenient or necessary. THE MILITARY SCHEME. STATEMENT BY LORD HALDANE. (Rec. August 23,10.55 p.m.)-' London, August 23. In the House of Lords,' Lord Haldane, Secretary of Stato for War, in announcing the names of the railway inquiry Commissioners, said the Government's policy throughout was to avoid bloodshed and protect life, limb, and liberty. The country was divided into districts under picked officers, and the latter wero instructed to be in close- communication with the civil authorities. U was obvious 'that even with 58,000 troops at their disposal, it was impossible to cover every point. Tho authorities had bepn anxious not to send tho troops where they were not needed. While it was a great disaster that some persons had been killed, it was better it should be shown that tho law had a firm hand. A survey had proved that the real rioters wero not the workmen on strike.