DOCKERS’ STRIKE.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1924, Page 2

DOCKERS’ STRIKE.

4USTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION SETTLEMENT REACHED. LONDON, Feb. 21. The dock strike has been settled. The Central News Agency reports that a meeting of the Dock employers in the West Country induced the London employers to concede the two shillings a day increase demanded by the men, with a reservation that the whole question of maintenance should be decided on a national basis. IRELAND IN THE STRIKE.

LONDON, Fob. 20 The dockers' strike has spread to J reland.

Following on instructions from London, the (lockers of Belfast declined to discharge ships irom Britain. The dockers at Londonderry also struck.

A DRAMATIC COLLAPSE. LONDON. Feb. 21. The (lock .-trike collapsed dramatically, while Londoners wore in bed. The Cabinet mot at. 0 o’clock hist nigh t to coii-iiler the mobilising of food resources. The Premier later had a colilei'cncc with the dockers’ leaders in his private room at the House ol Commons.

Meantime, tile employers had assembled in the Hotel Victoria, every shipping centre being represented. This meeting lasted from 0 o’clock till 11.

It is understood that it. was decided to olfcr Is a day increase immediately and the other Is very shortly. A .Ministry of Labour official thereafter accompanied the employers' representatives to the Ministry, where the dockers’ officials were waiting.

A .parley was there continued till 2 o’clock this morning, when an agreement was announced.

The official communique does not mention terms.

THE INCURY

LONDON, Fob. 20. At the dock inquiry, Mr Bovin pointed out that the dockers have accepted reductions totalling Gs per day since 1021. because “they have been lighting to establish national agreements, which the employers had threatened to terminate unless the reductions were accepted. The dockers have also been fighting to abolish

casual labour, which is a social disgrace. Their present claim was for a reversion to the wages paid in 1022. What had precipitated the present dispute, lie said, was the attitude of the employers at a meeting fixed by themselves, when Lord Devonport, on behalf of the employers, had eurtlv dismissed the men’s delegate without- giving any reason. Mr Bovin asserted that many of the employers did not give their permission to reject the

claim. Indeed, hundreds of the companies wanted to pay the increase, lie concluded that, if the Court’s decision gave a reasonable hope of a settlement, a delegates’ conference would immediately he summoned. - Kir Norman Hill, on behalf of the shipowners, contended that wages’ reductions were necessary in consequence nf bad trade, lie denied that the employers had threatened to break up , the national ngromonts. fie argued

the need of restoring international credit, of increasing exports, and of hard work to repair war wastage. He j said that, uhile freights had fallen, working expenses had not diminished. Many shipowners had abandoned the hope of ever making profits. Many of : the dockers wore making far more j than the men who were producing the j articles that they handled. ! Replying to a request hv the Cliair- , man to submit the statistics of dividend disbursements, Kir N. Hill suggested the. .ippeintmont of n chartered accuU man!

| The Chairman replied: “That would never do. The strike must he settled without delay.” The Court hoped to report to the Afinistcr of Labour on February 22. The Court adjourned. SURPRISE CAUSED.

LONDON. Feh. 21 j The surprise of the country or, awaking to the fact that the strike has been settled while the population was sleeping will he the greater because tlie main editions of many of the newspapers were printed before lhe news arrived. The strike was the most complete of its kind in British history. 1 All the ports are blocked with idle ! ships. Afoeovcr, there are signs the ! strike would soon bo vastly extended to other workers, with most serious

consequences, I The “Daily Express’’ says:—“The employers’ decision is really an offer of two shillings. The difficulty was to so wrap up the concession ot the second shilling that it would not appear to he a climb down.” It is understood that the Government had arranged with the strike leaders for the movement of food supplies from the docks. Tile Government were guaranteeing that the men employed in tin's work would receive the full 12 shillings daily for which they struck. WORK SOON RESTATING. LONDON, Feb. 21. The Secretary to the Ministry of Labour states that further conferences were held at the .Ministry under Afr Shaw’s chairmanship and they resulted . in the representatives of the parties I reaching an agreement, in terms of | which have been accepted by the employers representatives, and will he | recommended by the men’s represenlaI tibes to n delegate conference which is being summoned to meet the Aliuistry of Labour in tho evening. Subject to confirmation, work will be resumed at all ports as soon as the arrangements can be made. LONDON. Feb. 20. The Emergency Committee of the Trades Union Congress has passed a resolution congratulating the transport ami dock workers on their magnificent stand, and pledging them the , support cl the Rritish trade unions, j also calling on all affiliated oiganisa- | lions of the Congress to assist the ; strikers.

FOOD CONSERVATION. LONDON. Feh. 21. In the House of Commons, Air Ramsay AlacDonald stated that negotiations were in progress to secure the safety of essential foodstuffs. He hoped that they would be completed to-day.