The Strike Ends

Hokitika Guardian, 15 May 1926, Page 3

The Strike Ends

[Australian & N.Z. Cubic Association.] VARIOUS REPORTS. I.dKIiON; Afn.v !2. , Tim railway situation is very complicated, the companies announcements being made to increase services at ibo earliest practicable liniment and men tv'li b<> accepted "übjeit to Iciiiditiofis lliaf- every man wbo struck, broke his contract of service, and therefore I lie companies reserve all rights they posess therein. The companies also propose to cnhmiiic ads of violence and intimidation practically, meanwhile reserving. a decision thereupon. The eonlpaiiicr. deMare this is a .necessary prelude in the interests of public safety, future peace and discipline. An individual statement from Ibe Southern Raihvhy Company sets out it is impossible to supplement the limited emergency service to any material extent before Monday. Practically the entire railwaymen have been notified by post to tin’s effect. While reports from provinces show ltianV trainmen were informed tlmy Should apply fur work in the ordinaly way, the position glove rise to a persistent rumour that, the railways are refusing to accept strikers, unless they agree to lower wages. Ihe joint companies issued an emphatic denial. Tn view of these conditions a majority of railwhy men have not resumed. A conference of the executive was hurriedly convened and after a conference lasting ninety minutes, a telegram was dispatched from headquarters of the National Union of railway men to alt executives that in view of the (inference concerning reinstatement, the joint executive called upon railway men to continue on strike until they receive a satisfactory assurance.

The position of the transport workers is more or loss unsatisfactory. Xo strikers attended Victoria, Albert, or King George Docks, having been instructed to remain out until definite instructions were given to resume. This applies to the docks practically everywhere. The general position at Hull is regarded as unchanged, thirty thousand still striking.

POSITION IN* PROVINCES. LONDON, May If!. Only a few strikers returned nt Glasgow where there was_some resentment at the calling off of the general strike. The proprietors of four Glasgow newspapers announce that only non-union labour will henceforth be employed. Meanwhile volunteers are carrying on. In a nilajority of the 'services ibe resumption is only partial at Manchester, and alsewbere. There is a general tendency all over the provinces on ibe part of tram men and dockers not to resume. Liverpool employers posted a notice that dockers nv'iy return on Friday at the old wages.

TRADES CONGRESS STATEMENT LONDON, May 12.

The T.U. Congress bad a prolonged session, whereafter the spokesman issued a statement saving:—We have called off the strike in confidence that Mr Raklwin meant what be said, when lie asked for n resumption of negotiations towards an honourable peace. This power depends cm the employers abstaining from victimisation. II the latter continued, Die effect would be the unions will bo compelled to odor tlio most stubborn resistance, and the whole purpose expressed by the Prime Minister would, if that occurred, be rendered null and void. II if meant what Air Baldwin said, then the Government must stop this attack on .ho trades unionism and demand the employers abstain from victimisation. Unless these obligations are fulfilled the Trades Unions will_ have no alternative but to resist m uttermost and their resisting capacity is unimpaired. The T.U. Congress continued We need acts, not words, if work is to be resumed. Employers wbo imagine the calling off of the strike meant a failure of the trades union movement, are making the mistake of their lives. In calling it off we looked for reciprocity. Tt was not evidence of weakness, but a desire Tor peace on terms honourable to the whole movement. jf Mr Baldwin would give all bis inlluence to see that no employer tries to victimise and humiliate the men, pence might be saved, if not let there be no mistake, for trade onions arc not suing for mercy. We are prepared to make peace as man to man. no only alternative to a grave situation is that the peace shall be honourably k<?pt hy both sides,

MR. BALDWIN'S STATEMENT. LONDON, May 13. In the House of Commons, speaking on the strike situation, Mr Baldwin said- “I think it is right to immediately review the difficult situation existing to-day. I had never expected, whatever the end, and however it came, that the upset could straighten itself. I always have felt that the days after calling off the strike would he' the most difficult through which we must pass. Though the people’s behaviour, as a whole, has been most admirable, there has been a strain and when it is suddenly removed, the reaction is necessarily heavy. We saw tbo same thing, on an infiitely tT scale, at the end of the War. 1 am sure Mr Lloyd George will admit that the problems with which he was confronted during the first few months of peace were far more difficult than those met during the War. The country s supreme, obvious interest requires that supreme, obvious interest requires that the largest body of men shall he brought hack at the earliest moment. I take that as a starting point and I repeat that the occasion calls toi neither malice, nor recrimination, not triumph. Our duty is to escape, as soon as possible, from the consequence! of this unhappy controversy. llc . • we talk about it, at present, the bettei There is a real difficulty which mus bo put plainly before the House in i completely unprovocative way '• hat ever were the intentions of those »n declared the general strike, it the' efforts had been successful, it void have meant a complete cessation of tb press and of transport. Supposin that any Government bad been con pietely unprepared for the crisis, win

would have happened? can tL j Had the Government been unprepared there would have been a condition ot anarchy. Under those circumstances, no Government c-ould have declined to take up the duties of providing national services. These were maintained, partly bv men not striking, ami partly from volunteers from the large majority of the nation not directly concerned in the strike. 1 have given only one pledge. It is that those who have helped the Government should not sutler for that reason, f hope that my word will always stand for something in England. If I vent hack on that pledge, who would trust me again. There is a real difficulty in reconciling a pledge of that kind with taking hath all the men to work. The problen: must he thrashed out between tin Unions’ and it he Employers Associations. The situation calls for tea statesmanship. I feel that any pro loimed discussion, where full and accu rate information is not always avail able, and where a sense of responsibi ity may be lacking, would lie likely t hamper those beginning the dehcat and difficult negotiations Unfortunat lv there has been a great deal of pr< paganda on both sides. Personally,

liave ah instinctive dislike for propaganda. parti cuirtriy tliHt propaganda sitting tiiat a railway company attack of. wages is pending. What l want to say is” that F. will condemn any attempt on the part of any employei to use the present occasion for trying, in any way, to get a reduction in wages oil those in force before the strike, or an increase in tlie limits. It must he remembered that we could not hate it general hold-up rtf the business of the couhtrv. even for a week or a fortnight without dislocating and deranging the trade of the country, i have no knowledge of the extent to which this has happened, but foreign contracts have been cancelled, and there will be an entire cessation, or great timidity, in placing fresh orders.” ”1 recognise the peculiar responsibility tluit attaches to mo because of the message 1 broadcasted on the first, day of the strike. I stand by every word ol' that message. East night I learnt that a large group of employers were unwilling to meet the Union concerned. I am glad to say, ~n authority, that they have now ar-

ranged a meeting for to-morrow. Another body of engineers bad an agreement with their men. which was broken. Their first idea was that loss favourable term must he negotiated if they were going to take the men hack. [ am glad to hear that they have decided not to alter the conditions of employment.” "The railway companies have a most difficult task, because fear of unemployment. for a time must he considcrod owing to the decline of work. I warn the House not to accept all the stories (lying about the lobbies, they do nothing but harm. Tims, it was stated that the railways were propooitm- to take this opportunity of reducing wages, and to take back the men as new entrants, they thus receiving lower wages, as well as losing the benefit of their seniority. I telephoned and found the rumours were without foundation. The same rumour about the London General OniniIni Coy. is contradicted by responsible people. T'bio Employers’ Association and the Unions are now meeting. Let us do nothing tn hamper their efforts.”

lie added: “Mr MacDonald lias expressed the hope that there would be no attack on the trade unions ns such. I cannot imagine there will be such an attack. There must (human nature being what it is), for a few days be some soreness, and certain difficulty in recovering a friendly spirit in the negotiations. Let all try to avoid this soreness. There could be no greater disaster than anarchy in t lie Trade Union World. Tt is impossible for our highly-develop-ed system of industry to car-

ry on unless there are organisations which can speak for, and bind both parties. Otherwise there would 1,0 sporadic outbreaks. One of the dangers, if the present situation lasts, is that such organisations will lose their power. The Government lias no power to coerce, but the whole of our influence is being exercised, and will be exercised, in the letter and the spirit of what I stated by broadcast or otherwise during the last ton days.” Following Mr Baldwin. Mr -T. TT. Thomas said that the spirit behind the Prime Minister’s speech would be helpful. A big thing was done !>v the Trade Union Congress when il called off Die strike, which four million men ami women bad answered, because they believed that they were helping the miners. The Prime Minister met the Trades Union Congress in the manner that all had expected, hut when the Labour Leaders saw the "British Gazette” this morning, they were sore at the ending of the strike described as n “total surrender” and so on. ‘'That was hurled at two million men.” ho said, ‘‘who refused to surrender to the Germans.” You can imagine the bitterness that followed. W : hcn the leaders arrived at tins office first tiling and found that Die Government themselves were not carrying out the 1 rime Minister* desire—an Admiralty order saving: ‘‘Established men who have been on strike arc to lie suspended until further notice”—how could that fie squared with the Prime Miuistoi 3 spcooli. Mr Thomas then road a War Office notice. Icalling 'attention to regulation that discharge due to workers’

default forfeited all previous service. He asked was that a spirit of goodwill? Sir Worthington Evan: “Mliat is Die- date?” Air Thomas: Alay the 10th. Does that mean that the notice is withdrawn ? Sir f.. Worthington Evans: No. Mr Thomas: Then I ask Die Prime Alinister why not? Mr Thoma.t concluded by asking overv member ot tlie House to substantiate the plea of the Prime Alinistor with which he heartily associated himself and endorsed. AIR- LLOYD GEORGE’S VIEW.

LONDON, May 13. Mr Lloyd George in the House of 'Commons said he thought every quarter of the House desired to respond to Mr Baldwin’s appeal. He said: “Let us get the waters calm as soon as wo can lest our work soil the woik of half a century.’’ He specially welcomed Mr Baldwin’s assurance that he would not countenance any attacks • on the trade unions as a result oi ’ what had happened, and he also web • coined Mr Baldwin’s assurance t.'ii' ! he deprecated any attempt by tt< J employers to take advantage of t.w fc present opportunity to reduce wages j no-ease hours, or secure conditions i.

anv vtf.iy, was than those before the strike. The employers, after the-struct were bound to stand by the men who stood to them, but the employers could make it plain that they v.crc not engaging in any vindictive ope. a tions. The country wanted peace V come, as quietly ns possible. Mr Buffi win, with great courage and sanity had indicated the path to peace la miners’ question was still unsettled and until the million miners return ed to work, two millions would b ■ thrown out. and industry paralysed i Ho trusted the appeal to the employ : ers and unions to work for peace i - a spirit of goodwill and co-open.t.o i which would not only have a. good o

feet on the restarting, but also mean • the introduction of a new temper ai- s ter the restarting. V motion for the adjournment was then withdrawn and other subjects discussed. ] MACDONALD’S ULTIMATUM. ' WORKERS \VI LL~NOT BE VOICED. LONDON. May 13. Mi- Ramsav MacDonald (La.iotu Leader) in a crowded house spoke - n a

motion for the adjournment. In - sisted that the strike which was ter - mated on Wednesday was puro'y an - j dnstrial strike-a strike begun, rig or wrongly, with the sane idea <>f sup j nortiim- the coal miners. I • £ , bfo f»r <led»a.« '•••><" fug the Strike had always at the first moment when dnstrial securities came on to thezon they would be satisfied o b . nonce That was what had actually ■ happened. Nobody, he said, knew net- . t '/than Mr Baldwin the courage dint . those who h«d * °« « - strike He continued: It is a r^. [ Sep and one which ought to draw

from every section of tlie CofnuUinity a determination to make that step effective ill the direction of peace.” W lien peace came, ant! tliC fight was over, the first tiling that the eommdiiufc'nU on both sides did tfns to. shake hands. That had not lia{j|i<int'.! f sday— —this bad not happened in regard to tin- coir ditious imposed on the men who weio returning to work. Mas this what was meaiit by Me Baldwin’s appeal yesterday? lie was informed that to-day more men were oilt that! there

u;ere yesterday, and ft was riot because tliey wanted to hold up the. community, hut iiccauso the new conditions which, the employers were now imposing made the industrial conditions impossible. He had asked the trades concerned whether advantage could not Ik: taken of the calling off of the general strike in order to establish good relations on a broader and firmer foundation than there had been for a good many years. Let there he no mistake, if there were to he any attempt to .sinaah up trade unionism—if any section of the community, or any foolish person in Die community, thought that alter recent events they could scrape the face of trade unionism in the dust, they would he very much mistaken. “Me do not want guerilla warfare to go on.” he said, “we want all the resentment, left behind. Tf this warfare is to be avoided, it must he by treating the men as independent, self-respecting workers. We are not going to he treated, as human beings, with the yoke of absolute subordination rivet ted to our necks. If it is imluit to crn-.li us. let us know! Let the House ol Commons in the first place make a declaration. that it wants no 'crushing and no humiliation.”

Mr MacDonald added: “1-et the House of Commons uplift its voice tor peace with lull restoration and restitution.” OTHER PARTICULARS. LONDON, May Uh Tn the House of Commons, Colonel 0. B. Hurst. (Conservative) asked whether the Ministry were aware that three officers of the Taxation Department had circularised their colleagues urging them to take up a levy in support of the strikers. Rt. Hon. B. McNeill said this matter raised serious issues, which were engaging the Cabinet’s attention. Tn the House of Commons. Commander J. M. Kenworthy drew attention to the decision of the Hull mass meeting of workers not to resume till arrangements are made lor all strikers to fie reinstated. Mr TT. B. Betterton (Conservative) referred the questioner to Air Baldwin’s statement urging the employers and employees to meet to discuss arrangements. , LONDON. May 111. Sixty-eight miners in Doncaster have been sentenced to three months haul labour for interfering with road tmimport. Their leader was given an additional two months, and also was lined 220. LONDON, A fay DC Over forty were injured at Poplar, where the dockers were disgruntled at the news Unit the shrike was cancelled. A huge crowd assembled in the vicinity of the union offices, and became so threatening that mounted and l""t police were obliged to charge belorc order was restored.

.STATEMENTS BY PEERS. LONDON. Alay 12

In the House of Lords. Lord Salisbury. in a. statement, said that it was a matter of profound satisfaction fe the Government and the country, that, the strike had been called oil. The Government, he said, was now levelling to the role of mediator. It had been obliged to take a more active part than that- of mediation in resisting Mm strike land in vindicating the law and tlio constitution. He said lie hoped that there was no note of triumph in his voice. Ihe Government was only too thanktu! that t ie principle of commoi.scnse and sentiments of legality so deep in the minds of the English people had asserted themselves. Lord Asquith said that he heard Dm statement as to the end of Die strike with intense gratification. Tt was not meant, for recrimination or exultation. T’hev would he lacking in their duty, ho said, if they did not express pride in and satisfaction with, the patience, (rood temper, and sol f-Dcrifive exhibited in all quarters. Those qualities would still lie required in the weeks ahead. RAILAYAYAI F.N UNITED. LONDON. May 11. Tlie raila.vmeu’s leaders have laid a conference "IDi tho Railway Managers ’Association, when they discussed the reinstatement of the men. Ihe conference adjourned till to-morrow, without reaching any agreement. The Executives of the three Railway Unions have now jointly instructed all the railwaymen to continue on strike until satisfactory assurances art received. LONDON. Mdv IdThe T.U. Congress remains in session in order to keep in momentary touch, reviewing tile whole position f» the preservation of trades union stand-

ards and peaceful resumption. An official explanation of the rail- ( waymeu’s position points out that m , accord.inee with ttie T.U. Vongrcss decision, the Bailway Unions had instructed the men to present theliisehe.s for work. This was done in a genuine desire to assist in Hie restoration ot normal conditions ns quickly as possible. It was expected this action would he treated by the companies in the spirit of the Prime Minister’s appeal.' However, widespread reports revealed that difficulties were being placed in the way. In many cases even reinstatement was refused. Otheis were asked to sign agreements placing

them in a compromising position, contrary to all past practice. In «°n*oeunce. the men definilely refused, m large numbers, to resume. Ihe Union therefore, instructed the men to continue the stoppage, and the companies were advised accordingly. The railway- leaders favour an early meeting of the companies in ortier to effect settlements. . The Archbishop of Canterbury. >" » special appeal, in which he endorses whole-heartedly Mr Baldwins him.. trusts the negotiations will he resumed in a spirit of goodwill with the same brotherhood and good temper so strikingly apparent in the last anxious da>> ' XFAV YORK. May V2. The liurried withdrawal of pieiious cancellation of pissages to England has provided the. first immediate .e----nction of the settlement of too British General strike here. All lines are reporting a revival of business.

LABOUR'S PROTEST. LONDON. May l 3

\fter a mooting of the Parliamentary Labour Putty under the chairmanship was issued by the Party against the way in which the < ri . ® «-nn*itivelv and inaccurately do“brf X am!;,, »f tl» Trote Coioo Council as an “unconditional surreiiThe statement also calls attention to the fact that the employersn» venous industries ore defying <- Minister’s appeal, and are seeking to impose unwarrantable terms upon the W The r Party has decided to press the Prime Minister immediately for a statement regarding the real meaning of his declaration of goodwill,

v LONDON, Alay 13. As tlio result of a formal demand presented by the Labour Party after its meeting to-day, Mr Baldwin has agreed to take a strike debate ill the Honan of Commons to-night. POSITION ON FRIDAY. LONDON, May U. This (Friday) Morning the . new* papers still are not published,' AnIxmdon begins another day without normal transport facilities, though there is a more hopeful atmosphere, owing to the conferences proceeding in all industries with i< view to resumption; . Afr Levin, the (lockers’ loader, interviewed. said : “White there is a certain amount of Diction oTor the taking hack of workers, there art good prospects that the strike everywhere will he ended in five ucys.” Afeanwhile the pnition is of the ugliest. though it seems most probable that there will he a mutual adjustniont before Monday. Tt AfLtf A f NKG OTT AT lON’S. LO'xfiOA, May 13. A regards Die railway position. conference of the Railway Company Managers and tlie representatives of the throe Railway Unions was held this evening, hut it failed to arrive at an agreement. The deliberations will he resumed to-morrow. At Edinburgh the railwaymen have decided to remain on strike. They carried a resolution demanding tlio release of all who were arrested in connection with the strike. LONDON, Alay 13. The Trades Unoin Congress lias circularised the Unions, urging the members to sign no individual undertakings, but, to consult their Union officials and stand by their instructions. The Congress remarks: “lour Union will protect you and will insist that all the previous agreements shall he maintained intact.”

The circular declares ’ that it is imperative that- the agreements, undertakings, and conditions existing prior to the dispute shall he maintained.

Tho Trades Union Council has received many report of attempts to enforce humiliating terms on employees. The Congress circular states that if Trade Unionism is attacked, and if the employers persist- in their victimisation, the Unions will resist them to the uttermost.