The Strike Ends

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1926, Page 3

The Strike Ends

[Australian &"N.Z. Cable Association.!

PRESS COMMENT. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, May JO

On Sunday morning the newspaper situation remains most curious. No newspapers are publishing normally from the offices, yet four page sheets more or less resembling the usual productions were circulated to a small extent in the course of Saturday.

The “ Daily Chronicle ” editorially said the general strike has for the time being depleted the wages fund, and fewer orders will be booked and fewer jobs will be going. Some reductions in tlio staff will in many cases be inevitable.

The y Daily Express ” in an editorial beaded “No Victimisation” said the . hot-heads have had a lesson, and it is important to emphasise that the policy of cutting tile basic wage is the means to procure safeguards that will defeat its purpose. Good wages make contented workmen. The “ Westminister Gazette ” says the strike failed because the people as. a whole organised their own defence against it. England remains a Constitutional country to the backbone, but the sympathy of the people has remained with the miners throughout. The “ Daily Mail ’’ in a leader headed “ No Reprisals ” says the strikers are our own countrymen. They have acted under ii sense of loyalty to trade unions. The more generously employers behave, the sooner men will understand how they hijvc been misled. The position of the Sunday papers is obscure. Most of the offices arc closed. The “ Sunday Express,” however, lias issued a four page paper under strike conditions, containing up-to-date news. It understands that its is unlikely the miners will accept the Government s proposals for settling the dispute. Government, in "this event, will probably take firm steps to bring the dispute to an end. Editorially the paper says trades unionism, if wisely led, will -now march forward on the old sale path, and will scrap the wild fanatics. The wisest workers will feel they have been used for, and by, a political conspiracy, but this is no time for revilings. A good employer does not seek to reduce wages and a good worker is willing to give loyal service. DOCKERS STRIKE SETTLED. LONDON, May 16. London dockers strike is settled. PAPERS TO RESUME. LONDON, May lb. Tho general printing trade has made arrangements for resumption on a day to day basis, pending a national settlement, which will he discussed on Thursday next. COMMUNIST CHARGED. LONDON, May JO. Charged with possessing; documents contravening tho emergency regulations, George Stewart, acting general secretary of the Communist Party, was remanded for la week on bail. His arrest was the sequul to u police search of tho Communist headquarters on the second day of the strike. THE RED FAILURE. LONDON, May IS. Tho “Sunday Herald” reviewing the strike says the Reds did not care a half penny for the miners wrongs which were a pretext. They aimed at pillage, bloodshed, the overthrowing of the Throne, and Government and the establishing of a Red State with Moscow money. Wo hope tho employers will make every possible allowance for the fact that the men were led into Vly against their will and that there will be. m. attempt to break Tibcle Unions.. The “Sunday Express” says the nations injury is mensurable, but the Trade Unions injury is immeasurable. Trade Unions if "wisely led should now march on-the safe old path and scrip the wild lanatics and the shallow doctrinaires with their imported shibboleths and allied catch words. The wisest workers feel they have been used for a political conspiracy and are glad the plot has-been crushed. The strike ■hit the workers harder than any class. Never has the people’s spirit been nobler. The nation has proved ib-ell sound to tho marrow. LONDON, May 16. Some difficulties are reported from provincial ditricts regarding the railwaymen who describe the companies torpis as hirniliating. but these me expected to be fitted up at the week end.

MINERS SHOW FEELING. LONDON, May 16

Earliest reports front the coalfield show it will not be- an easy task to induce the miners to accept the Government’s new proposals. A strong feeling was expressed at to-day’s meeting of the Forest of Devon miners, which passed a resolution condemning the Trade Union Congress and Congrss Council for its betrayal of the working class movement by calling oft the general strike. DOCKERS RESUME.

Following a prolonged conference. London dockers to-day accepted the terms closely following the railn aymen’s new agreement. Normal working will be resumed to-morrow. The g employers promise that reinstatement g of supervisors of workers to their . former positions, simultaneously with { n resumption. t Mr Bovan issued a statement that i) 10 terms were satisfactory !to the men’s union. He was confident sum- ( lar terms to other ports would result ( in an immediate resumption. I At Hull the general strike was onlysettled after lengthy negotiations, all grades remaining out as a protest against what was regarded as the humiliating resumption terms offered. The tram.waymen eventually accepted, on a modified form. ) THE PREMIER'S THANKS. LONDON. May 16. .Mr Baldwin sent a message to the chief civil commissioner tendering the Government’s sincere thanks to all men and women numbering nearly half-a-million ' who were enrolled throughout the country by voluntary service committees. The Premier says that less than ten per cent, of thee were actually called up when • the general strike terminated, hut it -W W ns necessary as in the Great "VI nr to have and maintain an available large reeerve of volunteers to meet contingent demands. NEWSPAPER- SETTLEMENT. LONDON. May 15. A full agreement lias been reached between the newspaper proprietors and tvphographienly unions, and the London evening papers will appear on Monday and morning pnpers on uesdav. The settlement provides there shall be no interference with the contents of the newspapers owned by the Proprietors Association and no interference with the management of the busi--4 ness or the right to employ or dmIpL charge the staff hut there is to be i-0 victimisation on either side.