Railway Strike.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 October 1919, Page 5

Railway Strike.

WOTHER CONFERENCE LIKELY. PREPKRING FOR THE WORST.

LONDON, Oct. 3

. Mr‘ Ram‘-t Williams, representing the transport workers, states that a deputation may meet the Premier tomorrow, and then report to even a mere representative gathering. Trade uionists of all unions are also asked to consult each other in order to pre--pare for any action that may be deemqd necessary in View of the whole cir-‘ cumstances. i

NO SETTLEMENT.

HGPES NOT REALISED.

LONDON, Oct. 3.

‘ Hopes. hang in the balance at Caxton Hall. The committee continues . its efforts for mediation, and is now V closeted with the Preniier. but Mr‘ Cramps? extremism still has the upper hand; In the Railwaymen’s- Executive A he.-secured refusal of the Governments . terms yesterdny, declaring that they were equal to a. demand for uncondition- ’ ai surrender, which the railwaymen cannot possibly accept. The full Cab—inet met in the evening, and continued deliberations till morning. The Lord Chancellor and Attorney-General were "called in. It is not known whether i the mediatorsere passing from advocacy of compromise to threats of -strikes in support of the railwaymen, but Mr Williams, who is acting as the ‘ committee's secretary, refers to other ’ unions becoming affected. The vehicle * workers’ strike ballot papers are to be v ' A returned tonight. The Ministry of Transport has issued an u_rgent.ca.ll for; two -thousand , ‘ volunteer bus conductors; ’ With a vieijs}"ito"possibilities, a. number of "un-

ions the ‘provinces are ca.rrying"r'e‘~ solntionk-gain -favour of ~ sympathetic strikes, ‘and’ some are ‘voting levies ‘to’ the Al"a.ilWa.3.'nie‘n‘.bt and coun'ter’-pickteting "has intensified. gfrhere have been ‘but’ a‘ -fewvconflicts, but reports of attempted ‘sabotage continue. The latest at tempt ‘Was to derail a. train at‘Dum‘bartby a feeble effort of a chair" placed across ‘the rails. The engine brushed it aside. Reports from seventy provincial strike committees contain numerous demands for the resignation of «Sir Eric Geddes_

e~*"_ A settlement is believed to be_ in sight. The railwaymen have accepted a formula, which pleases the Premier, and 511 are ‘conferring at Downing Street. ' '

‘Ah oflicial report states that, ‘replying to a telegraphic inquiry from the editor of the “Liverpool Express,” Mr Lloyd ,George telegraphed: “Every man who returns to work immediately will "be reinstated and Will receive back pay due.” ’

_ LONDON, Oct. 3. The_railwa.ymen left Downing Street, ' anneuncing, “No settlement.” '

ANOTHER COANFER-ENCE HELD.

. _ DEPUTATION CHEERFUL. é Received 8.45 a.m, ' , LONDON, Odt. '4‘ The Mediation ‘Colhm'ittee left Downing Street at seven toenight, wand ap'peared very cheerful. An oflicial state-. ment issued lalter says the defiutation saw Mr B‘onar Law, but theinterview was adjourned until to‘-morrow. It is generally opined the committee again succeeded in bringing the Government and Vche Railw-aymen’-s Executive together. “ ' "T"-'3

- SRIKE INCIDENTS. RUNNING THE BLOCKADE. 9 ...._..... , LONDON, E. 4. Piekets at ;the “goods yard at King’s Cross yesterday prevented the =d'eparTure of‘ a number of vans driven by unionists and volunteers. Inside the yard workers were determim-ed t 6 run the blockade. Captain Leveson GOWGT organised 2, convoy of four Waggons, driven by the eolonel ‘and other oflicers. The waggons succeeded in passing the pickets, despite stone-throwing.

JMANUFACTURERS CARRYING ON.

NO DISMISSA'LS OF STAFF.

Received 9.20 am.

LONDON," Oct. 4, ’.Ehe‘,National Union of Manufabfurgf§’Has ascertained that the bulk of its gngizzbers are carrying lon, and caring

* the wélfare (if their workers. The at Glasgow are able to‘ca.rryA on ‘ ffiif ‘a;noi;_hei' week. "There have been no "31_._T_‘s+ii,i'i's»s."1/'l3" of ‘ Clyde workers} on any ‘ ~ i;>(‘«3.]_'e. b ’ ‘ ,5‘ V £73AisbnNSé.jtd the calffor vvoiunfeers shows 2*‘_‘~v;tTliil=;f;'pA'll[b]ic‘- determination-to meet "the L A ~ "rm"

""” ’ ‘\ REVIEW OF(SITUATION.

ALL SAFEGUARDS TAKEN.

Received 9.0 a.m.

LONDON, Oct. 4.

Mr Thomas has issued a. statement'regrctting the failure to arrive at a settlement. The only reason to give was that the Railwtaymeifls Executive were convinced they could not persuade the men to resume on the conditions ofi'ercd, but the fact that the Tratde Unionists were still in session and may take steps to see the Premier may lead to another meeting.

The other leaders Working for a settlement. are O’Grady, Henderson, and Go~sli.ng. The public demand that Parliament be immediately convened is becoming‘ insistent: It is Ibelieved if the questions are debated it will assist the strikers 60 see the facts of the situation, especially as much distrust of the Government in trade union circles exists.

Outrages against volunteers are increasingly numerous, though ‘few, considering the great numbers involved and the bitterness of the struggle. A young man among a crowd of loafers threw vitrol over 3. in.oto‘l'-lorry driver at Clapham. Probably the driver will suffer permanent injury to the eyes. Twelve /thousand troops have already been sent to South ‘Wales, and machine gfu.ns are posted at tunnels and bridges in many districts. . The approaches to stations are blocked with barbed wire. Of 4780 _trains on Friday, 400 were goods and 1900 underground. There is the greatest slump in_London theatres since raid nights. the majority beEng half enipty.

Owing to the strike, the New Zealanders emTb-arked on the Arawa at Torquay instead of Plymouth“ An ofi"lcial message says the Government is satisfied all necessary measures have -'been' taken to: Heal with any situation that may” arise. A very limited.‘ service of passenger .trains- were running on Sunday in order to enable more goods trafiic to,be 'é_a.lried. _ l

_ Thanks ‘to offers of service still com; ing in from all. parts. of the_. country, the Government isvconfidént: it will_b,e possible to continue to seifegizard the community entirely through ihhe civil arm, with tho voluhtaryoo-o‘pera.tion of the population. ’ ’ _ l " . J

CIVIC AUTHORITIES CALLED TOGETHER. T

Received 10.10 a.m

LONDON, Oct. 4.

- Oflicial: The Prime Minister telegraphed to the heads of the principal civic .a.uthori/ties as follows: Circumstances arisiung out of the regrettable conditions regarding the railway communications and their eifects on trade, industry, and life of the community generally render it necessary I‘ should have an opportunity of eonfer.rin'-g with the heads of our great civic authorities on matters of urgent ‘public importance. I shall be glad if you can meet me and the Minister concerned on Tuesday, and if unable to attend to «send a responsible deputy.

GrRA.VITY O-F POSITION RE-ALISED.

Received 1_0..10 aim. LONDON. Oct.‘4..

The Conciliation Committee‘ of ' the transporters has issued a manifesto referring .to the, negotiations, complaining of the ~Grover»nment’s harsh terms and: irreconcilia:bl‘e attitude and a desire to punish them for striking. The manifesto concludes with a strong warning to the Government that unless 3, more reasonable attitude is adopted before Tues-day’s conference assembles it: will be impossible to avert widespread extension of the’ strike. As a result of the strike Bradford operatives are working overtime. The weekly irncrease in production of eomb~ ed Wool will be half a million pounds. A Downing Street communique says plans are in active pxjeparatioin to meet the si\’tua.tion tieazu-sed ‘by the strike leaders’ refusal to accept arbitration.

‘ Arhong the aristocracies assisting in ‘the crisis are Lords Elgin and Wodehouse, who are acting as firengen and sfoker respectively. ‘Lord Cholmo.ndeley is a porter at Paddington, Lord Montagu Beaulieu 3. driver of :1, train at Bournemouth.

‘The London Conciliation Commite‘fe, after a prolonged conference With the Ra,ilwaymen’s Executive, called at Downing Street and saw Mr Bonar Law in an interview with the Government and the sffikers’ execuiive.

DOCKS CROWDED WITH GOODS. Received ‘9.45 ,~.a.m. ~ LONDON, Oct. 4. -Many meetings -of omnibus and tramwaylmen favoured a sympathetic strike. Their Executive Comniittee re. commended them to await Tuesday's conference. Four hundred North Brim tish railwaymen ha._vo rettirned to work, The tramwaymen in Dublin threaten to strike in -event of dismissals owing to reduced service. The strike is hayf ing‘ a. -seri-ous elfect_.a.t- Tilbury docke, fiiany quayg -being evererowded with all c_l'a.sses. of goods. Sheds reserved for foodstrufis’ are filled, and 75,099 cases of cheese and vast stores of wool and hides are stacked in the open. -

Ml‘ ‘Henderson, aé nlenlb_er of the Conciliation Committee, predicts a sememont within 24 hours.

GOVERNMENT PRECAUTIONS.

AGAINST GENERAL STRIKE.

Received 9.45 am

LONDON, Oct. 4

The strike has already intensified class differencesdn such. a way as to give a considerable blow to existing orders. It was understood among Lloyd Geol‘gc’s friends thai: no recognised the strike had revealed the force which required to -be met; by the construction of new industrial arbitration machinery, and was ready to submit a prog'l‘anlme of reforms. All this, however, -has now been postponed, while ihc Government, solidly backed by public opinion, proceeds with measures to meet the intensified conflict. The general public’s attitude to the strikers has become much sl‘crner_ All classes are doing some st'l'il~:e, duty. from clerks to West-enders and educated classes. The strikerfig uncompromising refusal of the G')V'(:‘.l‘l’lnl(:']lt offers resulted in a great increase of volunteers, compelling the authsorities to refuse to register any more at many depots. So far the Government appear to have the, situation well in ltand. ‘Skilled instructors are training thousands of volunteers," including loco. drivers, who undergo a most rigid test before being allowed on the footboard. The measures include. a wide extension. Counter pickets are iiicreasing, with military gliards on the main lines. An urgent appeal has bcen made to the public to refrain from using trains except ._'or urgent reasons The Government’s sudden call for citizen guards created. a sonsation, and the response remarkable from all parts of the country. The step is variously interpreted. There is some suspicion that the Government does not wholly trust the army’ in tlie event of a general -strike _.provo'king (listurbances,_ but nosign of such. diS--trustwexisted. All troops used hitherto have responded with alacrity, aswell aslnaval ratings and? ex-service men.

Home officials statethere is nothhlg of the “big stick.” about the appeal, but guards are necessary to protect H!" e and property against sabotage and violence by criminally minded peopie, who take the opportunity afforded ‘by 'turmoil. The guards wear po-lice brassards, and carry truncheons, -but no arms. Recruiting is proceeding 2-ipace. The Government are preparing other measures to meet; a possible genrel strike, but there is 2. gro*.vi_ng fee].ircg that a solution will be found before Tuesday_ 7 ’

NEVVSPAPER OPINIONS,

Recei’V"'TeE'l ‘£0.15 a.m.

LONDON, Nov... 4.

There was an instant response .’r.o the GOVernment’s appeal to Lord-'Licuten-ants, Mayors, and other oflicials that: the time had arrived to form_ Citizens’ Guards. The organisation commence?! in London and elsewhere. London ’s organising COll}_lllitl'.ee, is composed of representative.‘er"i7i‘zens. Constables also were called up. Government circles express the opinion ‘that the railwaymen ’s flat refusal reveals there is more behind the strike than a mere question of wages. » '

The Daily Express declares”:-he acceptance of the railWaymell’s conditions would have meant ihe abdication of the Government. The Daily Chronicle declares the confliet denlonstrates that the strike weapon, While efi'ee~tive -a.gain's.t indivi(Tua.l. employers, is unsuitable for employnient against the State, for its ufise then meant; War. _

The’ Daily Telegraph says the people; support the Preniier in insisting "on the submission of the Ra.ilw.a.yme~.n’s Executive to the authority Qof the community, and the abandoning the claim to give orders to the Government. The Morning Post says the issue is now plain; it is a conflict .between- a. Bolshevik and 00-nstitutional Govern-me-nt,

The Daily News siiys .t:‘ne men acted with great unwisdom from the Viewpoint of their own interest in rejecting the Government’s offer, and have. gone far to deprive themselves of any ju»s.ti_ fication for inflictin-g a grave injury on the corfiniunity. _

The Times, in 9. leader, declares the national Watchword must be,’ “Stand firm.” '"

The Daily Herald says the Govern-. ment’s last offer is the grcatesvt insult of all. It is the old offer with an additional suggestion that the forces of re-action have‘ seven days’ truce to perfect .tfie strike-breaking organisation.