Collapse of the Strike.

Manawatu Herald, 19 May 1903, Page 2

Collapse of the Strike.

AN UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.

The railway strike has ended, the men having unconditionally surrendered. The .settlement of the strike was arranged at a conferee, held in the Parliamentary Buildings, between the Premier (Mr Irvine), the Minister for Railways (Mr Bent), the leader of the Opposition (Sir Alexander Peacock), the leader of the Labour party (Mr Bromley), Mr Duffy, Mr Frank Madden and the president and secretary of the Engine-drivers’ Association. On rising to speak, Mr Irvine was greeted with loud cheers. He said:—

It is extremely gratifying to me to be placed in the position of being abe to announce that the unfortunate strike has come to an end. I received this morning, through favour of the leader of the Opposition and other' gentlemen, the following letter: — * “ Locomotive Engine-drivers’ and Firemen’s Association.—May 15th. Sir, —On behalf of thejmembers of the above association, now on'strike, we desire to intimate to you that we have declared the strike off, and that the association, -as a body is prepared to return to work, in full confidence that we wiil receive justice at your hands.—(Signed) Hart, president ) Scorer, general secretary.” Mr Irvine went on to say the men who had taken a leading part in the strike, or had committed acts of intimidation or left their engines at the points, were not to be taken back. The men who had reluctantly joined the strike, simply through being cajoled, or out of feeling of loyalty to their comrades, would, however, be treated magnanimously. As regarded pensions and other rights, the Premier said that in all probability many of those engaged in the strike would have to suffer. “Those we can admit into the service we will admit with a full regard to the interests of the people, but subject to that w r e shall certainly endeavour to temper justice with mercy, and shall exercise absolute impartiality in admitting back to the service those who have participated in this unhappy conflict.”

The strike was declared off on Friday. Mr Scorer, secretary of the

Drivers’ Association, in an interview, said : “ What caused us to act as we did on behalf of the association was our desire to save good men from being sacrificed —1 mean good fellows who were true to us. The thing had to be done in the interests of the men. There is no good bringing other men down who are trying to carry you up. We acted after the most careful' consideration, and after looking at the position in all its bearings. “It is stated in an evening paper,” continued Mr Scorer, “ that I had read the Premier’s statement about the conditions under which . the men would come back, 1 have no recollection of saying so. I had not read the Premier’s statement, although we heard in conference the views of the Government. We felt that the only thing for us to do was to approach the Government. As for myself, I recognised all through that I was out of it altogether j but but there was no good dragging other men into the same position. I cannot say that all our members Will be satisfied, A good number are still confident, and cannot see it in the way we do, However, I feel that we have acted for, the best in very painful circumstances.” Mr Hart, president of the Drivers’ Union, interviewed, said:—“We might as well make a clean breast of it. Owing to bribes and other heavy inducements held out to the f men to resume work; country members keep on seceding. This meant that the strike would probably fizzle out. I Seeing this and the misery it would cause, and also that a lot of loyalhearted members would suffer through those who deserted, we decided to surrender unconditionally and trust the Government. . * “We were assured from every section of the House that the Government would carry the Suppression Bill through, and the result would have been that a lot of members would have taken fright at the risk of being put in gaol. “ The notification I had to make at a crowded meeting at the Trades Hall last evening was received very badly. There was a decided expression of opinion among a large section that they would remain out until the executive officers who had been removed for disobedience were reinstated. The meeting was certainly not in a good temper, and occasional statements reflecting strongly on our leadership were made, It was suggested that we had been squared by the Government for a couple of thousand pounds. This, of course, was said. There were many strong men there who gave way to tears. I have been crying nearly all day, although I had not cried for years ; but we maintain that we had acted wisely. This will be recognised when the excitement disappears,”