The Strike Position

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1926, Page 2

The Strike Position

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] MAY WHOLE TIME FORCE. LONDON, Alay 9. Government late last night announced the organisation, of a new whole time force called the Civil Constabulary Reserve, composed of ex-terri-torials and ex-militaries. Payment will be: Commander, Ids daily, inspector 7s Cd, sergeant 6s, constable ss. Rations and accommodation are provided with an allowance of os for clothing daily. 'the Exchange says transport workers have ordered out all men engaged in Hour-milling at Liverpool and Birkenhead. the .Labour paper '•“/Birmingham A\ orker” was raided and a number of workers arrested. THE PAPER POSITION. LONDON, Alav 8. Ihe “British AYorker” appears at half its usual size. It declares that tile Cabinet has destroyed its supply of newsprint. The national executive committee of the National Union of Journalists has passed a resolution declaring it is nermissablo for the members to work on tLo makeshift papers, which cannot permanently displace any men who are on strike.

There is no sign of London newspapers being issued this morning. The office doors are closed, and the premises are guarded by police. LONDON, Alay 7.

Bt. Holt Mr Ramsay MacDonald, Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, in an interview said: ‘No Party can claim the right to be the sole, supporter of Parliamentary institutions and of representative Government, I have striven for this objective all my life, and I shall so continue. The present strike is in no way aimed against the Government or the Constitution. It is purely an industrial dispute, I hope that the people of foreign countries will not he misled and 1 trust that the country’s constitutional traditions will not he damaged by the Government's present propaganda.

THE FOURTH DAY. LONDON, Alay 7

The fourth day sees no gleam < hope for a settlement of the strike.

The Trade Union Congress alter ii morning session to-day, announced ilia the position was uni hanged.

The Trade Union Congress to-day issued a statement showing that the workers are coming out in more trades.

The Congress states that as power or material ceases to he available, the district strike organisations are being instructed to approach the local initlorlakings, and to oiler to supply light for the houses, streets, shops, and oilier lighting, also power for the bakeries, the laundries, and the dwellings. The Congress reiterated that Labour is .--till anxious tor a settlement, and the workers are only lighting for a fair thing for the miners. PARLIAAIF.X'I ARY STAFF. LONDON. May 7. A significant statement, was made by the Speaker in the House of Commons. It arose out, of an enquiry as

to vV.iether arrangements would 1 made to enable the House ol Con mons to continue in session, lidtwitl standing the absence of the regain staff responsible for the ordinary roi vices of the House.

The Speaker replying said lie regret ted that it, was a fact that the mo engaged on the stall ol the pnneipti services of the House had been with drawn.

The Speaker then assured members that he would not allow the House to be disabled from proceeding with its work bv the action of any body of men. If it became necessary, lie would conduct the House without any printing or any electric light. ONLY .1 UST BEGUN, LONDON, Alay 8. There is no suggestion of any peace movement from either side. On the other hand the Trades Union Congress declares that the strike has only just begun. The Congress talks ominously of its second line of defence. The line of attack is being ttndisguisedly mentioned at the street corner meetings, which are being held everywhere. The Congress emphasises its difficulty, not in getting the men to come out, but keeping them in. One speaker at a huge meeting in a Labourite quarter reeled off the names of scores of factories whose members wished to join the strike, declaring that- they regarded themselves as blacklegs, because they were working. The speaker! added that they were told that they would be instructed when to strike. The time was not ripe yet, Interference with food transport, is the first indication of these methods. POWER HOUSE At EX. LONDON. Alay S. There is now a tendency to extend the strike to the power houses. At present the entire seventy-four power stations in London are working satisfactorily, with the exception of nve stations that are located in industrial areas. Attempts to cut off power have been made in the provinces. 'Die employees of the Newcastle Power House have struck, hut the current is being maintained there by vulunteer labour.

At Fulham, the power house mei struck to-day.

The blast furnace employees in the Wellingboro and Kettering districts have been now notified by their union to cease work. THE LABOUR HEAD. LONDON, May 8. The “British Gazette” says: The chief apostle of Labour at the general headquarters, 51 r Bevin, of the Transporters, is the real commander-in-chief of the general strike. IN' THE COSISIONS. LONDON. 51av 7. There were some angry moments in the House of Commons shortly after Sir G. Strickland (Conservative) suggested that Sir John Simon’s sncecli (mentioned earlier) should he published and distributed on account of its great importance and technical character.

The Labourite, the Itcv. Barr (Motherwell Division of Lanark. Scotland) objected to such any singling out of speeches in this manner at present.

Sir A. Holbrook (Conservative Member for Basingstoke) declared: “Hie present fight was against the community. Every day meat lorries were Iksing overturned by pickets, who (he declared) were young men instructed by the Labour Party. slr D. Kirkwood (Labour Monitor for Dumbarton) amid loud and angry Labour cries, sprang up. and said to the Deputy-Speaker: “Holbrook is going to withdraw that statement.” Mr Jack Jones '(Labour slember for Silvertown, West Ham) said: ‘Holbrook had no right to lie!” slr Kirkwood, addressing the Deputy Speaker, said: “Even if you have -power to suspend me, I do not give a

damn! He has got to withdraw tint objectionable phrase. Nobody was so instructed by the Labour Party.” Sir A. Holbrook, continuing, referred to an incident in Battersea, ;n

which, he said, the occupants of a. motor car were dragged out. He warned the Labour leaders against making any inflammatory speeches which would result in their supporters getting out of hand.

Doctor Hade-ii Guest (Labour Member for North Southwark) said: ‘The disturbance he has mentioned occurred near the ‘Elephant and Castle,’ which is a calm, quiet area, and it was caused by the runners and '.outs connected with the street bookmakers, who haunt the district. That outbreak was the work of sheer hooligans, and not of trades unionists.”

Mr George Lansburv (Labour Me illher for Bow and Bromley) accused the Government of causing the inconvenience arising out of the dispute, oocause, in the most contemptous fashion, it had spurned the offer of the trade unions that the strike should not applv to essential services. LONDON, Alav 7. In the dock areas, there has been a withdrawal of the pickets. This

has enabled more foodstuffs to be shifted. Great quantities of fish have accumulated in Billingsgate, and .lie prices are reasonable, and the Ministry of Health has call;d the housewives’ attention to this fact. ARMY OF "SPECIALS.” LONDON, May 8. Sir W. Joynson-Hieks, the Homo Secretary, is asking for thirty thousand special constables in addition to twenty thousand specials he has already had enlisted in the London area. LONDON, Alay 8. The trained observer cannot escape the fact that the Government are now using every resource they have to command the situation. The movements of the troops suggest that the Government is thoroughly alive to all the emergencies, and it makes it difficult to deny the general fact that soldiers are now available in die city of London at one minute’s notice. Fortunately the heart of the Empire is quiet, by comparison, but when it is remembered that the strike extends over the full length and breadth of the island, its magnitude must he fully appreciated. c-ome excitement was caused in the! city during the afternoon by about 30 large motor lorries, loaded with fully equipped soldiers, wearing steel helmets. They are understood to have been going to the docks to protect voluntary workers there who probably will start discharging cargoes ol flour and wheat to-morrow. RESORT TO FORCE. LONDON, Alay 7. The latest trend of the strike is in the direction of an interference with food transport, this being responsible for the most outspoken official communique yet issued. It appears in the Government’s paper. “The British Gazette,” wherein no attempt is mado to minimise the seriousness of the new trend.

The “Gazette” statement says: “As was expected, the situation has become • more intense. The climax has not yet been reached. Orders have been sent by the leaders ol the Railway Union and the Transport Unions to do the utmost to paralyse and break down the- supply of food and of necessaries of life intimidation, both by disorderly crowds- and by piekoting ) lias occurred at numerous places. It may soon occur more extensively.”

The communique continues: “The Government has directed the authorities to repress and to overcome any criminal obstructions. The recruitment of special constables throughout the country is now vigorously and rapidly pressed on. It is proposed to raise fifty thousand special constables in Loudon immediately,”

The communique continued: “Other important measures to increase the forces at the disposal of the Government and to enable widespread protection. are also going on.” The communique continues: “An organised attempt is being made to starve the people, and to wreck the state, and the situation is entering upon a new phase.” THE FIGHT IN SCOTLAND. LONDON, /Alay 7. In connection with the Glasgow disturbances, the injured include a police sergeant, who was taken to the hospital suffering from head injuries ami concussion. He was struck by a stone.

A youth dashed through a shattered window, and he was seriously hurt, and the police continued their baton charges all day. By midnight quietness had been restored. HON DON, May 8.

Further disturbances toccurred at Glasgow last night, forty-eight arrests being made up to midnight. Rickets stopped petrol lorries in East Stanford ho; e. Three arrests were made over it.

A number of telegraph wires between Newcastle and Hexham have been cut.

Strikers at the Yarmouth corporation power station resumed work. At Edinburgh, the licensees have agreed to the Afagistrate’s recommendation not to sell any liquor after three o’clock in *the afternoon to-morrow (Sunday).

ATTESJPT TO STOP TRAFFIC. LONDON, 51 ay 7. Rioting took place at 51iddlesboro last night. The official details show that heavy lorries were chained to rails in an attempt to wreck a late passenger train. The crowd prevented the closing of the level crossing gates They invaded the passenger station. They wrecked the goods station, and did serious damage. In response to the sfayor’s appeal naval rating then cleared the line for traffic after several hours’ work LONDON. 51 ay 8. 'Pile Berwick-Newc:ij»tle train was attacked last night. The driver noticed a level crossing gate foul of the line and slowed up. .Suddenly a mob of three hundred or four hundred men appeared on both sides of the line, and then bombarded the train with heavy stones. A big stone smashed the glass of the driver’s cabin, and grazed the driver’s neck, and hit the stoker. LONDON. 5 lav 7. Following upon a refusal by the Newport-sfonmouth corporation to discontinue the supply <>f electric power to the industrial concerns, the Strike Committee there has advised the withdrawal of the men from the power station. The'operatives have notified that they will lease work this afternoon. The employees of the Newcastle Electric Supply Company struck last night, hut an emergency staff is carrying on, the supply of power being uninterrupted. THE STRIKE UNIVERSAL, LONDON, May 8. On Saturday morning London presented the strangest picture imaginable, as it also did last night. Whatever humour or novelty the general strike may have had, it had unquestionably worn off. Rain was pouring upon the deserted streets. This suggests that even the Merry Month cf

Afay lias joined the Trades Union Congress. . . The private ear traffic, which is tho only tiling resembling the characteristic London bustle, practically ceases at twilight. The few buses manfully attempting to cope with the millions cf people, disappear early in the evening. thus leaving disconsolate people huddled in sheltering doorways. , ' V London, after six o’clock, is virtually at a standstill. All the established business hours are thrown overboard. The cafes and the restaurants close hours earlier than usual. It is most difficult to obtain meals. The supplies of draught beer have run out in the majority of hotels, where the trade is now infinitesimal. A few theatres carry on, but it is only motor owners that can afford to patronise them, because transport is impossible with the darkness. Valiant attempts are still made to reorganise the tubes underground, and tho surface though they still are far from adequate, and the majority cease work earlv.

The absence of the newsboys’ cry adds to the deotblv silence. while nightfall sees not a single taxi. Fleet Street is still lifeless, though the majority of papers announce they will publish sheets on Saturday. Whatever form these take, tliev will bo most welcome, because the public feels helpless in tho grip of the amazing silence.

Reckless rumours of riots, shootings, and movements of troops spread alarmingly. The Government’s newspaper and also tho Government’s broadcast issue give frequent denials, but the nervousness is not always allajed. The cinemas are carrying on, despite the fact that it is at great losses. Sir .T. Stoll, their official spokesman, urges attendances in order to prevent total closing. Some idea of the public apprehension can be gathered from Sir J. Stoll’s emphasis of the fact that the streets were safe, and that, therefore, the people should not he alarmed to venture out and take some recreation.

London’s week-end as far as business is concerned promises to be a city of the dead. The business man, recognising the strain imposed on their employees in going and returning to il.e city, have resolved to close over the week-end.

In the city of London to-day it is almost like a Sunday. of tho offices and shops are closed, in order to give a rest to tho employees, many of whom have had to walk long distances now. FOURTH DAY'S TREK. LONDON, Alay 7. The weather conditions for the great trek to the city and the West End on the fourth morning of the strike proved most disagreeable, but there was not a great diminution in the number of pedestrians. An attenuated service of trains from many districts relieved the situation. Five hundred trains ran on tho southern railway yesterday. LONDON, May 8. It is officially stated that the situation throughout the country is satisfactory there being ample , supplies of foodstuffs, in practically every district. The country is quiet. There have been no disturbances during the last twenty-four 'hours, except a few minor incidents. * OTHER ASPECTS. LONDON, Alay 7. The Government has informed tSio troops that any action which they necessary in an honest endeavour to aid the civil powers will receive, both now and afterwards, the full support of the Government. LONDON, Afay 7. Naval men with bayonets .fixed, and assisted by machine gun parties, are guarding the bridges and the dock at the entrances. LONDON, May 8. The Ustor Government lias proclaimed a state of emergency in the North of Ireland. The War Office lias denied stories that troops have refused to carry out their strike duties.

It declares that the troops have not yet been called out, wth the exception of a few guards at the vulnerable points, although units have been moved to certain districts in order to be available in the event of an emergency. It also denies that the Army Reserve has been mobilised. LONDON, .May 8. The departure of the liner Pakelia for New Zealand with migrants has been deferred. MELBOURNE, Alay S. Afr Bruce received a cablegram from the High, Commissioner stating the present indications are that the strike conditions will have no detrimental effect upon prices of Australian apples. HOME OFFICE REPORT. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Alay 9. Fifteen hundred persons attendee] St. Alban’s Cathedral yesterday for the service of intercession. The Home Office reports the miners’ conduct is exemplary. Only the transport workers are occasionally - troublesome.