The Strike Position

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1926, Page 3

The Strike Position

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association

THE FOOD SUPPLY.

LONDON, May 0

GovernmeilL reports state speaking generally, there is no shortage of food. Apparently there has been little effort lnatle to raise prices. No difficulty ill obtaining drivers for transport is anticipated by the civil commissioner In some cases where there is a difficulty in moving supplies, the Trade Union Congress permitted volunteer Workers to remove the goods.

There has been strong intimidation in the. eastern districts preventin'’ some movement of foodstuffs. between seventy and eighty London omnibuses did not return to their depo at tho scheduled time last night, owing to dntnage to various parts, but CO inoro general omnibuses are working to-day. Lorries to London from .Southampton were turned back by pickets. 'flic Council of the Trade Union Congress reports to-fiav the solidarity of workers was maintained throughout the country. It denies food supplies were held up. On the contrary, the Council’s orders in regard to milk and foodstuffs generally were loyally obeyed,

Terms of imprisonment from a week to six months were imposed at Old Street Police Court arising out- of strike sccneS at Shoreditch and Bethnal Clreen, including an assault on police; IN THE COMMONS. GOVERNMENT PLANS. LONDON. May (5. In the House of Commons, there was a crowded attendance in expectation of the strike discussion. The Prince of Wales and the Duke of York were again present. Those in. the gallery Included the Miners’ Federation Picsidont, Mr Herbert Smith.

The discussion was resumed on the \ Emergency Powers Act Regulations. There was a Labour amendment to omit ft clause dealing with damage to property and tho carrying of explosives, lethal weapons or dangerous missies, Mr G, Buchanan (Labour)'asked the meaning of tho words; “His known characetr” in this clause. For instance, lie remarked, it might be dangerous for Lady Astor to bo seen in tho neighbourhood of a brewery. Tho Attorney-General (Sir F, Hogg) explained that tho object of the clause was to deal with persons found near vulnerable spots suspected to be there for illegitimate purposes, regarding whom any previous convictions would be relevant, Tho Attorney-General said that Mr Batey, the Labour member’s declaration that no mincowncr should reopen his mine when the miners said he should not was tho best, jiisitication for a regulation of that kind, Mr Manly Jones (Labour) declared; ‘’Those lire .tho most provocative words .that have been uttered since the strike began. It is an open challenge to the Miners’ Federation, mid, as such, we accept it. All the miners’ representatives here will do their utmost to prevent any mine-owner from working his mine with “blackleg” labour. These regulations are a scrap ot paper ns far as the miners are concerned.

You will- have causo to regret your

statement, which will lie repeated r throughout the country during the week-end. Mr Jones (Labour) said; “This regulation means that the Trade Unionists are to be arrested. Those who say, ‘Givo peace in our time 0 Lord!’ now tell ns that the law of England is not strong enough! What y'ou mean is. ‘Let us have the pieces all tho time!’ There are forty thousand East finders who fought in tile War, and who aie ready to pul their backs to the wail and fight again. We want peace, but wo are not going to lie told that all the powers of the State aro to be organised against us. You have declared war against us! Do your damndest! AVe are out to fight 1” The amendment was rejected by ..17 votes to 95.

LONDON, May 7

Air Lanshury (Labour) moVed to omit Regulation Twenty-five, dealing with acts leading to mutiny among soldiers or civilians, and with interference with food and transport.

Mr Lunsbuiy denied that his objection to this Regulation implied :ny motive against the community. He merely desired to preserve the right of peaceful picketing to persuade people from the distribution of food or horn, other services that might he taken over by the Government. ' Mr Kirkwood (Glasgow) in sero uling Mr Lansbury’s motion, objected to tlieso emergency powers being gi’.en to “this . graceful, rotten British. Government, which smiles and plays the villain all the while.’ Mr Kirkwood added: “I Know where I shall find myself within a week i u K aoll You cannot crush the spirit that T represent, ft is the spirit of liberty!” Cries: “For whom?” and laughter. Mr Kirkwood: “For all- We ha\o done everything for peace, but the shedding of our manhood. We won t do that, or surrender.” Sir W r . H. Davison (Conservative) said that people claiming to act on behalf of the General Strike had stopped lorries and thrown out working girls, and made them. walk, it a:s a travesty of the truth to talk of peaceful persuasion. . , , Mr Neil McLean (Labour) said that if the Government wanted peace, it could have peace, upon honourable terms, but not by driving the workers further down. If Hie Government did not want pence then let it he "ai . The Government would he blume-i >le, and it would ho held responstbo for any trouble or disturbances. The Attorney-General (Sir D. Hogg) pointed out tiint it was no offence to take part in a strike, or to persuade | others to partake, but anything ... the nature of intimidation or violence would be an offence, as also would bo seditious speeches. . The Labourites continued to tight the Emergency Act regulation clause jy clause, but the debate practically was confined to the Opposition tenches. Mr Bromley • argued that the poll-.', of the Government would drive people with legitimate grievances to underground methods. Mr Bu pointed out that there will be tremendous meetings of tlie strikers on ■»»- day He urged the deletion of t.i power to prohibit such meetings uud processions. Tlu.se addressing ta.se ■ meetings would have perfect control of the situation. , The Prince of Wales and the DA. of York returned to the House 10-ctaj to listen to the debate.

POSITION ON Fit ID AY. LONDON, May

The~po.sition on this (Friday) nio.rn- j in<r is that Britain is utidoubt-illy undergoing one of the latest mtemal crisis in its history. Millie, then, fore it is difficult to attempt an impartial survey, the Government uisius through its official organ The Ga zette,” that it is a general Muke against constitutional government ai.d a challenge to Parliament fhe trade unions, on the other hand, through their own organ, insist, with equal emphasis, that the constitution is .ot

being attacked, and that the dispute is purely an industrial one, The public interprets these viewpoints, generally speaking, according to its predilections, but there are unquestionably cross-currents, For instance, ‘ heir sympathy with the miners does not prevent people from volunteering lor public service, or from enrolling as special constables in large numbers, While some of those are of opinion that the strike is unconstitutional in the essence, and effect, they nevertheless deplore the circumstances which led to the clash, and they eagerly s wk a. settlement. The nation undoubte llv supports the Government in the pieservaioil of law and order, and resents any attempt at a stranglehold, it is determined to carry oil in spue of the difficulties. The question naturally arises, which side is winning!' Eli is question cannot he* directly an-

swered. The strike is u success from the trade union viewpoint, judging ly tho response of the workers to unions’ call to stand idle. On the other ban 1. tho Government is successful in its counter action of organising maintenance of food supplies, aided by ,t

populate enduring hardships in order to keep tilings going. Trains and i-ni-nibuses are beginning to move, but their effort is infUlitessimal as compared with the normal resources. Food prices are beginning to rise. Fruit and vegetables are especially scarce. The tradesmen are wholly dependent on motor transport. Consequently, some shops are unable to supply goods that arc obtainable elsewhere. Most of flic theatres are closed. Numerous meetings are being held at the street ccrners ill tho evenings. They are orderly. The people seem most to resent the absence of news. There: is no outlet- for public feeling. It is suggested that it would he wiser if the newspapers were published even without the expression of any opinions.

THE PRESS STRIKE. LONDON, May lb Despite tho linotype operators being called out, “Tho Times” published a four-page paper. AVomen are included among the lino typers. PARTS, May 5. The French Printing 'Trades Unions arc ordering a strike in the event of the British newspapers endeavouring to print issues in France. They declare that they must support their British colleagues. As a failure of the strike would mean a decrease oi wages in France, and a lower standard of living. LONDON, May fi. The Executive of the Institute of Jouranlists passed a resolution protesting against what it terms “tho attempt to extinguish the newspaper press and the consequent suppression of freedom of opinion, and the curtailment of the supply of authentic news.” It calls on its member to do their utmost to frustrate the attempt at the earliest. At AVolverhnnipton, journalists belonging to the National Union of Journalists have struck in sympathy with the printers in objecting to an attempt to produce an emergency sheet.

SOME DISORDER. ■LONDON, May 0. The High Court to-ilav granted an injunction for restraining the officials „f’the Tower Hill Branch of the Seamen’s Union from calling a strike before the members had balloted. Two thousand of the employees of AYoolwicb Arsenal have resumed work. The “Daily -Mail” stats the special police include many Australians and New Zealanders, who are being used as police despatch riders. Am official summary of tlic situation all over the country to-day states. There have been no serious disorders, but there have been minor collisions between'the police and persons who were endeavouring to obstruct the movement of supplies.

Further lively street scenes have occurred in I-eeds. The police made a ha ton charge and cleared the streets, where the strikers were threatening to interfere with the trains.

Afinti disorder] iness lias occurred among the crowds in the South and East of London. Afounted police and , Te hundred foot police have cleared tlie thoroughfares there, several being

injured. Tlie strikers and tho police clashed in >Uam den town nnd King’s Cross. There were several baton charges.

Serious rioting has occurred in the East End of Glasgow. Sixty-font public houses and hoot shops were looted. The police cleared the neighbourhood nf the tramway depot, which was the centre of attack, after making several baton charges.

ArORE REGULATIONS. LONDON. May 7

In the London House of Commons, a Regulation providing for the employment of soldiers and sailors upon services vital to tho community was carried by 291 votes to 80. A regulation allowing arrests without warrants was carried by 310 to

Sir John Simon (Liberal) pointed out that the strike was one very different to an ordinary strike, which was perfectly legal. AVorkmcn wore at liberty to give due notice to their cniloyers and withdraw their labour when that notice expired, hut lie declared it was not lawful for a Trades Union

Executive to call out everybody, reward ess of contracts. It would be lamentable if the working classes wen' on with this business, without understanding that they were taking part in an utterly illegal proceeding. Every railwayman, he said, teas personally liable for damages. Every Trade Union Leader was liable fo the uttermost farthing of liis personal possessions. Tim proclamation of the general strike had been a tragic blunder from the standpoint' ,iof the future oif trade unionism. At one blow, it bad deprived the miners, wlio were faced by a dreadful difficulty, of the sympathy that they thoroughly deserved. He begged those in authority in the Labour "Movement to realise that they were abusing the power that the community had given them. There was danger of setting hack the peaceful progress of the working classes foi a generation. The main “Emergency Powers” resolution was agreed to without a division, all of the Labourites, expecting one having left the Chamber.

LABOUR. NOT BUDGING. LONDON. May 7

The position to-niglit can lie summarised as follows: Firstly, there i<s no weakening on either side. There are no definite peace negotiations.

Secondly, transport has vastly improved Tubes have re-opened restricted services, and street congestion in London has been greatly relieved. At least nine hundred trains were running on the main lines of England. Thirdly, minor lawlessness is increasing. The war on the motor ears has intensified.

-INSURANCE AGAINST RIOTS. LONDON, May 6

The market for insurance against damago by rioters or strikers remains steady. The “British Gazette” states tuat a considerable amount of business is doing but the rates show no panic tendency, though they naturally are higher. At present they are approxi.

mutely half a crown to four shillings per hundred pounds sterling for letail shops, according to the nature of the trade, while those dealing exclusively with foodstuffs and provisions have, quoted four shillings to seven and six.

BANKING NEWS. LONDON, May 7. The banks' have ordered the rc-issuc of Bank of England notes and also 'Treasury notes, which usually are withdrawn when dilapidated. PARIS, May fb Tho French Cabinet is taking undisclosed measures to cheek the continued slump of the franc. They explain that the rise in sterling is due to the British hanks sc’ling francs in order to buy sterling and dollars, in the face of the general strike. BRUSSELS, May G. Tho Belgian Minister of Finance lias resigned owing to the continued slump of the Belgian franc. JIOAV RUPTURE CAME. LONDON, May 0. ‘‘The British Gazette,” the Government’s paper, of which half a million copies wore sold to-day apart from 40 other papers publishing elsewhere, gives prominence to an article by a Cabinet Minister. It is entitled “Negotiations under menace.” The Minister emphasise Ib.o importance ol the second formula included in Mr Baldwin’s speech in Parliament on Wednesday, whereby Mr J. If. 'I homas and two sons of liis colleagues promised to endeavour to persuade the miners to agree to approach a,settlement with a knowledge Unit it would involve some reduction in wages. One member of the Cabinet had pointed out that this was the first time that the. Trades Council bad mentioned the phrase “reduction of wages,” and that the miners had not agreed to that phrase. At the time, the Cabinet were negotiating, with, ft pistol at their heads, and they decided that there was no jurisdiction for the further payment of any subsidy, especially as there 1 ad been overt acts in connection with the general strike. LABOUR’S DEMAND. LONDON, May 7.

A spokesman cf the Trades Union Congress, referring to the Government’s ultimatum to the Congress, pointed out that the general strike was preceded by the owners locking out the miners. The miners had had no chance of even discussing the lock-out. Tliis. said the spokesman, was a denial of the men’s rights to have any voice in their own rates of pay. It was. indeed, opposed to all the ideas of Bri-

tish justice. “Nevertheless.” he added, “wo arc continuing our efforts to secure the withdrawal of the owners’ lock-out notices, in order that the negotiations might lie resumed in a free atmosphere. All- Baldwin has taken up an attitude conrtary to our ideas of conducting industrial negotiations.’’ The spokesman quoted sympathetic messages that have been received hi the Congress from the following: The Canadian Farmers’ Union, half-million of the Lithuanian workers, the l nited States miners, and the German miners. The Trade Union Congress spokesman. in outlining the position tonight. issued a warning to the work ers not to heed any of the reportabout there being negotiations to end tlie .strike unless sueli reports are authorised by the Trade Union Congress Council.