BRITAIN’S GENERAL STRIKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3033, 8 May 1926, Page 2

BRITAIN’S GENERAL STRIKE.

BOTH SIDES UNYIELDING. NO PRESENT SIGNS OF SETTLEMENT. London, May (i. There is no weakening on either side. Transport is greatly improved. Nine hundred trains are running on main lines. The nation undoubtedly supports the Government in the preservation of law and order, and resents the attempt at a stranglehold. It is determined to carry on in spile of the difficulties. People seem most to resent the absence of news. There is no outlet for public feeling. It is suggested that it would be wiser if the newspapers were published even without an expression of opinion. The General Council of the Trades Union Congress has issued a statement refusing without qualification Mr. Baldwin’s demand that it should call off the general strike before a resumption of negotiations.

Government reports state that, speaking generally, there is no shortage of food. Apparently there has been little effort to raise prices. Emergency editions of city newspapers are being printed. The Institute of Journalists has protested against the attempt to extinguish the newspaper Press. There will be no interference with the cables.

East End mobs attacked bus drivers and police and damaged vehicles. A number of strikers were imprisoned for assault. S. Saklatvala, Communist M.P., has been sentenced to two months imprisonment for uttering a seditious speech. Heated language was used by Labour members in the House of Commons who declared that they were out to fight. The protective clauses in special legislation dealing with the strike were carried by overwhelming majorities. Blue summer skies characterised the weather on the third morning of the strike, which found vast crowds going to business in London in a

gay mood. Vehicles were as numerous as ever, but traffic jams were fewer. This was partly due to drivers following the back streets, hitherto unexplored. The emergency services are rapidly improving in all directions. A great increase is reported of passenger trains on the main and local lines. The apple market will be seriously affected by the strike. STATEMENT BY NEW ZEALAND LABOUR PARTY. Christchurch, May 7. A statement on behalf of the executive of the New Zealand Labour Parly setting out the salient facts in regard to the British coal crisis was handed to the Press to-day bv Mr. W. Nash, national secretary. ’ After a recital of the events leading up to the crisis, the statement concludes: “The only solution is, as pointed out by the Sankey Commission, uninficalion and operation of the entire industry as a unit. To this the mine-owners will not agree, and their action in holding out their own proposals to within twelve hours of the issue of the lock-out notices is sufficient index to their outlook. The New Zealand labour movement will do everything possible to assist their fellow-workers in Great Britain and they appeal to all citizens of New Zealand to consider the facts :is set out, and the movement has no doubt that New Zealand will support the miners to the full. The question vitally affects our Donumon: if the purchasing power of the workers in the Old Country is reduce,!, then automatically the demand for our produets is reduced also.”