THE BRITISH STRIKES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 115, 8 February 1919, Page 7

THE BRITISH STRIKES

FURTHER SPREAD FEARED ATTEMPT TO SUBSTITUTE DICTATION FOR NEGOTIATION , STEPS TO MAINTAIN t SERVICES By Telegrapli—Press Association—Copyright '■ • ' • London, February 5. 1 The most, recent developments emphasise. the Government's view that the conditions are not in any sense industrial disputes, but an attempt to substitute , dictation for negotiation It seems cer- , itttin there will bo a further' spread of the strike fever before normal conditions ! ore resumed. . ... A number of inter-union meetings were ; held privately last night with a view to securing unity of action. The executive ,' of the Vehicle Workers' Union coqsider- , - cd the position with reference to the Lon- , don omnibuses, and adjourned, in order i to confer with the Society of Locomoj tive Engineers .and tho Electrical Trade , -Unions, and the unofficial section of tho , National Union of Railwaymen. The , meetings were held with tho greatest secrecy. . ._ The electrical .trffdes unions are. finding it difficult to restrain tho more impulsive who are demanding a striko at the power stations immediately, instead of waiting till Thursday night, but in view of the offer of seven hundred London members of the Electrical Power Engineers' Association' to maintain a supply of electricity it. is doubtful whether the threat to plunge London in darkness will be effective. The authorities apparently are fully falive to all the possibilities of the situation, and have taken steps to maintain the postal, telegraph, and telephone systems in the event of a general strike 1 of.electrical workers. The Food Ministry has arranged for a host of motors to be in readiness, ensuring adequate distribution of food, particularly milk,..in. the event b'f a breakdown in thfe transport system. Responsible Trade Union leaders have arranged 'a joint meeting for to-day. Tiie Parliamentary Labour Party and tho National Labour Executive probably ivill issue a' powerful manifesto signed by : all the Labour members of Parliament. Mr. Bowerman (Secretary of the Trade ; Unmn Congress), in an interview, said that something must be done immediately, as the present action Was underMining, the effectiveness of collective .bargaining, which was the essence of trade unionism. The movement cannot be allowedto go unchallenged. Mr. G. H. Roberts (ex-Minister for La- , o' lr '> a speech at Harrow, said:— Unless the reasonable trade unionists and employers combine to resist the movement we are going straight for the decline,and fall, of tho British Empire. Ilie real danger to-day is the loss of our markets, ana a decline in tho demand lor employment, which will bring irreparable suffering. Tho strikers are'not injuring the • employers, hut destroying the very foundations of society." Other Labour members of Parliament are equally emphatic in their pronouncement; In view of the seriousness of the issues involved the public's inconvenience is regarded as trifimg, but the streets yesterday presented a remarkable scene. .Buses and trams were crowded, and hun-' dreds of thousands were forced to walk many miles to and from work. . There were long bus queues at evory stoppingplace. Many of tho people unceremoniously boarded motor lorries and tradesmen's carts. Scores of soldiers from I ranee had to walk across London in full kit, and they expressed keen iudignatioa with tho Strikers.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable -Assn. " ■ DECISION. OF THE AUTHORITIES "A NOVEL AND DRASTIC COURSE OF ACTION." ■ London, February G. Ihe authorities, after considering the strike, at .lengthy conferences, have decided upon a novel and drastic course of action. The details aro not. disclosed.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. LABOUR M.l'.'S SUPPORT GOVERNMENT. • London, February G. Ihe Labour members' of Parliament, almost without exception, support the Government. >' Mr. Browjilio, chairman of the executive of tho Amalgamated* Society of Engineers,, states that unions lirp. considering the expulsion of the rebel members. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SITUATION MOST SERIOUS ELECTRICIANS. AND .ENGINEERS TO STRIKE, i. ''l (Rec. February 7, 7.15 p.m.) i„. ~, . London, February G. lfie strike situation is most serious. It is understood that ten thousand electricians and two hundred thousand engineers will strike to-night, in defiance of the Government. As a precautionary measure naval and.military officers li'avo been recalled from leave.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable. Assn.. ARRANGEMENTS FOR CARRYING , . ' ON. (Rec. February 7, 7.50 p.m.) , London, February G. A majority of the London electricians apparently persist in their determination to strike to-night. The Government lias fully arranged to tarry on the works, with military protection if necessary. ■In the London trade the manufacturers are. losing five , million working hours daily as a result of the strikes.—United Service. \ STRIKE OF SOUTH-WESTERN DRIVERS CAUSES ISOLATION OF DENSE AREAS. . London, February G. A sudden strike of tho South-western drivers has isolated tho densest areas of Greater London, and prevented hundreds of thousands going to tho city.—Aus.N.Z. Cablo Assn. UNPRECEDENTED SCENES IN LONDON (Rec,. February 7, 5.5 p.m.) . London, Fobruary 5. The Government is using Army motor lorries to carry employees to Whitehall. Several newspapers iirge that tho hundreds now idle bo used on the most affected routes. Owners of private cars are also invited to assist. Picture papers are full of photographs of the unprecedented sceues. Pedestrians were nover more numerous on Waterloo, Westminster, and London Bridges. Bicyclcs aro largely, used, and omnibuses' queues aro everywhere. At Hammersmith there was a queue a mile long for several hours. Thero have been comparatively few accidents, but 6omo women fainted and others were hurt while scrambling on to trams and buses. Some women collapsed from exhaustion during their long walks. London is deserted at night. The theatres have suffered heavily, and many of tho leading hotels and restaurants, _ where their own striko lias aggravated the situation, are practically, empty.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MILITARY MOTOR LORRIES PRESSED INTO SERVICE. (Rec. February 7, 5.40 p.m.) London, February G. Tho Government lias ordered the im.niediate mobilisation of military motor lorries, with their drivers, and is placing the vehicles in the main streets of London for the conveyiyice of city workers, giving preference' to women and girls.— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. BOLSHEVIOINGLEADERS ORGANISING A DISTURBANCE IN t' LONDON. (Rec. February 7, 5.5 p.m.) « London, February 5. Tho Bolshevik ringleaders at Glasgow have abandoned hope of success, and tire i coming to London to organise a disturb- : ance.' Scotland Yajd'-is watching their ; movements.—Cable Assn.