THE BRITISH STRIKES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 116, 10 February 1919, Page 5

THE BRITISH STRIKES

PROVISIONAL AGREEMENT WITH RAILWAYMEN GENERAL CONDITIONS OF SERVICE TO BE CONSIDERED LONDON ELECTRICIANS ' RESUME By TeleEmph-Press Assooiation-Copyrlf-ij London, February 7. The National Union of Railwaymen, which controls the power-housee supplying the London electrical trains, has rejected the settlement, and has decided •to recognise the 6trike.~-Aus.'N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. February 9, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 7. The Press Bureau reports: The President of the Board of Trade (Sir Albert Stanley) announces that he has agreed with the locomotive engineers and firemen that, pending consideration of tha general conditions of the railway service, the underground trainmen will work an eight-hour day, meal times not included, but all reasonable facilities will be given, to meet the men's physical needs.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. February 9, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 8. Details of the settlement have not been disclosed, but it is expected that the London railwaymen will return to-day. Urgent messages were sent to the powerhouses in the early morning hours. Sixty thousand engineers, shipworkers. and municipal employees remain idle in Belfast, and threatens a general strike. This accentuates, the situation in Glasgow, where the bakers are striking today. The London electricians have resumed, pending consideration of national action, of which .there are. persistent rumours. The Miners' Federation will meet at Southport next week to receive the Governrnent?s reply to the demands for a 30 per cent, increase in wages, a sishour day. and nationalisation of the mines.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn. A SURPRISE DEVELOPMENT . ■KAILWAYJr.EN'S EXECUTIVE RECOGNISE THE STRIKE. 'Rec. February 9, 11 p.m.) London, February 7. There was a surprise development in the strike situation this afternoon. The executive of. the Railwayman's Union sent a letter to the .London electrical branches stating that they had considered the whole circumstances of the strike, and decided that their members in striking were justified. Therefore, the executive recognises the strike and the settlement offered by the Board as-unaccept-able, but tho matter is still-being pursued with a view to a settlement. This ! decision nullifiies Mr. Bromley's union's acceptance because practically all tho power-house workers belong to the Railwaymen's Union. A number of Mr. Bromley's men refuse to start until the railwaymen return. The executive's decision, which at present does not affect the steam services in the country, was followed by a series of branch meetings during tho mornins, at which the settlement was discussed. The railwaymen announce that negotiations for a national programme will commence early next week — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DISORGANISEDJMIN SERVICES ■WARRANTS FOR ARREST' OF THE • BELFAST STRIKE LEADERS. • (Rec. February 9, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 6. The trouble developed on the LondonBrighton line late at night. An official stated that lie feared that the main line, as well as local trains,, would be completely disorganised. The South-Western officials are equally' in doubt as to the extent of tho movement. All the motormen and guards on the electrified section struck at' midnight. Others tamo out in response to Mi\ Bromley's call. No early morning trains left Waterloo Station. The trouble so far has not affected the services to the north, north-west, or north-east on the trunk lines, or other companies' lines where no section of line is electrified. . . Although the settlement holds, the underground railways are still idle. The management has issued a notice to the district tube strikers who have not returned to work that there will be no trains to-day. There is, only a- partial strike of the electricians who control the power stations for lighting and factories. There has been no stoppage of the engineers thus far, though their threats remain. The engineering section on the Clyde i 9 almost full of work, but there is littlo improvement in the shipyard position. The , Manchester engineers declined to strike in favour of a forty-four hours week. . '. . Warrants have been issued for the arrest of the chief Belfast strike leaders on a charge of conspiracy to injure the public safety. ' „ . Later. The railway strike has been settled.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SCENES AND INcStS IN LONDON DIFFICULTIES OF TRANSIT. (Rec. February 9, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 6. The strike situation is growing worse. Fog and snow, which have converted the roads into slushy mud, are increasing the public discomfort. The latest strikes- on the South-AVestern and London-Brighton railways affect lines serving the most populous residential suburbs of Greater London. It is impossible to tell where the strike storm will burst next. The Great Western drivers and'firemen in the Plymouth district are striking in sympathy with the .South-Western men. There.is no indication that the electricians are wavering in their decision ■ to strike to-night,' despite the Defence of the Realm Act regulation making.it an offence for electricians to-stop work. The electricians have already received the concession of a forty-seven hours week, and they frankly state that they are striking in order to help the men.who are failing on the. Clyde. There have been most curious 6cenes during the Titsh to the city. Military j lorries perambulated the streets in the affected districts. City men faultlessly attired, fashionable women, and welldressed girls scrambled into the lorries and stood tightly packed alongside^workmen in corduroys. Strikers at. Wimbledon endeavoured to hold up the motor lorries bringing Gqvenment employees to town, '"he driver of the leacling lorry wearing a Mons ribbon, threatened to run .down any Bolshevik who came his way. The effect wns instantaneous. The strikers fell back amid cheers from tho onlookers. The strikes' are interfering with the work of demobilisation. Hundreds of soldiers on leave from France are held up at Victoria and Waterloo stations, and have the greatest difficulty in finding board and lodging. The Homo Secretary (Mr. Edward Shortt) has taken adequate steps to ensure the electricity supply of the metropolis. The tube strikers' attempts to involve the omnibus nml tram employees have hitherto ben rebuffed. Sir Albert Stanley (President of the Board of Trade) had a six hours' interview with Mr. Bromley, the secretary, and other representaitves of the locomotive engineers. Mr. R. S. Home (Minister nf Labour) attended the interview. Sir Albert St-nn-ley, during nn adjournment, consulted tho Cabinet. Mr. Bromley subsequently eaid that no definite decision had been reached. Everything was. hanging in tho air for a few hours, but plans for an extension of Hie strike are developing.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE NEWSPAPERS THREATENED London, February 7. The Electrical Trade Union has written to tho Nowspaper Proprietors' Association threatening to call upon the com-

positors to censor strike articles unless the newspapers are sympathaetic towards the strike.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. UNREST CAISEDBVGOVERNMENT MONEY BESTOWED REGARDLESS OF SUPERVISION. ■ (Rec. February 9, 11 p.m.) London, February 7. Lord Claud Hamilton, at the annual meeting of the Great AVeste'rn Railway, said that the present dangerous unrest was due to the fact that for three years the country had been debouched by Government money bestowed regardless of supervision, and concessions given regardless of fair play, but yielding to brute force.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. HOME AFFAIRS COMMISSION SUGGESTED TO CONSIDER INDUSTRIAL DISCONTENT. London, February 7. Lord Islington, in -a letter to the "Daily Telegraph,"' suggests the appointment of a Home Affairs Commission, consisting of members of the Cabinet, and representatives of Capital and Labour, for the puirpose of the continuous consideration of tho present industrial discontent, and to seek a remedy. It would investigate tho cost of living issue and educational propaganda. Lord Islinitfon also advocates joint statutory industrial councils' with plenary penal powers.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THESCOmsFsTRIKES MASS MEETINGS RESOLVE TO CONTINUE THEM. (Rec. February 10, 0.80 a.m.) London, February 8. Mass.meetings at Glasgow, Covan, and Clydebank resolved to continue the strike for a forty-hour week, and called on the executive councils to co-oporate with the strikers or resign. The Scottish miners have all resumed work, pending tho result of the conference of tho Miners' Federation on February 12.—Keuter. PERTH TRAh'sTrTkE SETTLED, ' Perth, February 8. The tram strike has- been settled.— Presg Assn. •