The Strike Ends

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1926, Page 2

The Strike Ends

CALLED OFF TO-DAY. BALDWIN PREDICTS END. [Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.jj LONDON, May 12. Special meetings of the General Council were held hurriedly during the evening. ’ It was officially stated that-the meeting was held with a- view of still further exploring the position in order if possible, to open the door for the resumption of the negotiations, and to keep it open. LONDON, May 12. The shipping centres on the east coast of England and Scotland report the- strike has extended to the shipbuilders and the engineers. LONDON, -May It. The fact that Mr R. MacDonald today interviewed the Miners’ Executive before the meeting of the General Council of the Trade Union Council and that Mr .T. 11. Thomas, A1..1\, after a visit to the House of Commons returned hurriedly to the Trades Union Council Headquarters, where Mr Bovin, the Dockers’ Leader, arrived in a motor ear, has occasioned talk that peace moves are progressing under the surface.

However, official confirmation oF this is not obtainable.

Tho Trades Union Council said that there had been no development, and it had no information regarding any intervention by Mr Herbert Samuel (Chairman of the Coal Commission).

BALDWIN’S HOPE. LONDON, May 11. Mr Baldwin, in an interview, said: “The beginning of the second week of the strike is reassuring. The community has shown itself not only determined to overcome a threat against its constitutional and political rights, hut to be fully callable of defending them efficiently ami calmly. There no longer is any doubt that the transport service can he carried out effectively, and they are improving- every hour. Tho, ultimate victory of tho nation and of the cause of constitutional government, is, in fact, assured.’’

“There unit he no confusion as lietween the coal stoppage and the general strike. They are distinct issues. The coal negotiations will. T hope, ho resumed directly tha A the general strike is cancelled by the Trade Union Council. Then. 1 will continue my efforts to see that in the settlement justice shall he done to both the miners and the coal owners. None of the Trades Union Council aims in decreeing the strike have been realised. The hold-up has failed. It is to he hoped that before long, the Trades Union Council and the men who obeyed the jstrike call will realise the futility of the strike, the collapse of which is inevitable. When it is over, Britain will have done much io protect the political institutions of the world. The country has shown that, neither now nor in the future, will unconstitutional interference be tolerated.”

MINERS’ TERMS. LONDON. May 11

Mr Cook (Minors’ Secretary) interviewed, said that numbers of people had been interviewing the miners’ officials with a view of getting a settlement. but lie (Cook) would repeat that peace was possible at any moment on terms securing the status quo at least for the miners.

LONDON. .May 11

Following up a strike of the meat porters at Sniitlilicld, it is now announced that the meat market is a protected area. Barriers arc drawn across all approaches, and the workers there are assured of full protection. Measures are being taken to convoy the lorries from the docks conveying imported meat.

The response to a request by the •Sinithfielci Emergency Committee for volunteer drivers and workers has been so ready that no further applications are desired.

A TUESDAY SUAIAIARV, LONDON, May 11. The most important events to-day may lie summarised as follows:

Many printers in the provinces are resuming.

Several factories re-opening, owing to Government transport facilities. The entire supervising and clerical sß.iffs of the Marine Department and the Midland Railway at Holyhead have resumed.

Ihe stevedores in London are asking to be allowed to resume, but have been told to-day that they must wait until the general strike is cancelled.

Practically the* whole of the students of Oxford and Cambridge are engaged in volunteer work, many being stationed in London as specials, equipped with steel helmets and truncheons. At Portsinnutli the crowds vainly endeavoured for three hours to bring out the workers at the tramway depot from which a full service i.s now operating. The Plymouth tram men have resumed and have enrolled ,us specials.

On the other hand, the plumbers, painters, and timber workers at Portsmouth have joined the strikers.

POWER SERVICES CONTINUE London, aimv n

There is no interruption of the power services, and the distribution of supplies of petrol is proceeding more rapidly than last week. Eight hundred strikers at the Royal A.rin.s factory at Enfield have resumed work.

It is officially announced that scores of Thames wharves, have been opened for traffic to-day. The whole of the employees of a ) ig flour mill in the Aledwav seceded from their Union owing to the possibility of their being called out. The Deptford and Greenwich Hourmillers report that ninety per cent, of the employees have resumed work. On the Clyde sailings have resumed. The bus and tram services in Edinburgh are practically normal. Numbers of old employees have returned to work. fiOVERNAfENT ADMISSION. LONDON, May 11. The Government does not lose sight of the fact that there are many of the resumptions above outlined which have not had more tlinn a, passing effect on the strike. The Government officially announces that! while the number of individuals returning i.s increasing, there is yet little sign of any general collapse of the strike.

The Trades Union Coinin'] i.s Ik>lieved to Ik? making an effort to enll out certain of fhe trades which are still working. It can, however, be definitely stated that there i.s growing dissatisfaction among the strikers.

There is considerable uneasiness regarding the ultimate results. The formation of the new civil constabulary is officially explained as having been undertaken in order to have the aid of uniformed men, should forces of disorder grow momentarily beyond police capabilities. The only alternative would have been the employment of the armed forces of the Crown, which would be a condition of affairs that

all would deplore, as it is generally felt that not (a shot should be fired, and no bayonets fixed, in the present struggle.

A SUGGESTED SOLUTION

LONDON, May 11

In the House of Commons, Sir John Simon, on a motion for the adjournment, reiterated his point that tho general strike, whatever the provocation and the circumstances, could not properly ho understood to be a trade dispute. He asserted: “The moment that a general strike is declared, it starts a wholly unconstitutional and unlawful movement, which the Trades Disputes Act never contemplated.” Sir J. Simon quoted a speech Uy Mr j. R. Ctynes (Labour ALP.) declaring: “You cannot declare a- general strike without anticipating a condition of civil war.”

Sir J- Simon exonerated the Parliamentary Labour leaders from cior designing to “blackmail the community. ’’•"People’ could not he judged by their motive, but by the obvious results of their actions. The Trade Union Council’ decision to stop the press was most stupid, and its greatest condemnation was its folly. Sir J. Simon admitted that, apart from tho legal issue, there lay tho social. industrial, human issue, to which the public and Parliament could not do justice till they realised that the general strike was a tragic blunder. Though be felt that the Government was right, he insisted that both Government and tho Trade Union Council, had got themselves into a position in which neither could make tho first move. The Government ought to announce its willingness temporarily to continue the coal subsidy upon three . concurrent conditions:—(l) That the general strike ho called off, and the mines re-opened at the old rate of pay from day to day; (2) That the Government ought to announce that it proposed, in any event, to introduce legislation to give effect, to tho Coal Commission’s recommendations. Lastly, the Trade Union Council and the «oal owners should definitely undertake to negotiate forthwith upon the bai of a full acceptance of the report. - SIR J. SIMON. LONDON, May 11. In the House of .Commons, Air T. Shaw (Labour), said: “With all respect for Sir J. Simon’s legal knowledge, I desire to insist that it is not illegal for any body of persons to cease work J{ they wish. Speaking for myself I believe that all the Parliamentary Labourites desire to say: “We have no need of Sir John Simon’s absolution. We take full responsibility for all our actions.”

lie said Sir J. Simon laid all the blame on the trade unions, but none on the mine owners, who posted tho notices of savage reductions, which no self-respecting workers could accept or refuse to help colleagues to light. No attempt had been made to insist upon the lockout notices being withdrawn to permit of negotiations. The trade unions, he said, would never accept a state of things where their strike notices, but not the employers’ lock-out notices, must ho withdrawn prior to the negotiations.

Afr Shaw said the Liberal motion should produce the status quo ante. He added: “ If there is anything behind it it will be favourably received by the Labourites if they are assured that the miners will get a straight deal.— The Labourites will then do their utmost to bring about peace.” Sir John Simon’s speech caused an animated discussion in the lobbies. When he was speaking, tlie Cabinet was sitting, so it is impossible to gain any idea to how far Sir John Simon’s proposal to assist the coal industry for a period, while arranging the conditions of pence, would he acceptable to the Government.

The scheme of Sir J. Simon is being brought down in the form of a resolution to-morrow for which the Liberals will ask the Government to grant a day for discussion in the House of Commons. Meanwhile the lobby comments are not very encouraging. The Conservatives’ opinion is that the Government should he firm on the point that the general strike must he withdrawn unconditional! v.

LONDON, Ala.v 11. Sir H. Samuel continues to be active trying to establish relations between the miners and coal owners. There are some suggestions that the Marquis of Handing should ho rsked to act as mediator.

STIC KE CONTRIBUTION. OTTAAVA, Alay 11. " The Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, in session at Montreal, voted 150,000 dollars for the British strikers..

THE AIINERS’ REQUEST. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Alay 12. The “Duly Chronicle” understands the miners last night requested thc Trade Union Congress to call off the strike in the interests of the miners, but the Trade Union Congress denies the report. [“ Sydney Sun ” Cables.] LONDON, Alay 12. After a two hours meeting to-day the Trade Union Congress Council went to Downing Street. STRIKE ENDS. LONDON, Alay 12. Official.—The strike is terminating to-day. STOCK .MARKET AFFECTED. BA* END OF STRIKE. [Reuter Telegrams.] (Received this day "at 9.0 a.m.) NEAV YORK, Alay 12. The termination of the strike attracted a flood of buying orders in the stock market on AA r ednesday, rallying prices one to five points. At the opening sterling rebounded to 485 j'.