ENDING THE STRIKE.

Taihape Daily Times, 7 October 1919, Page 5

ENDING THE STRIKE.

FINAL NEGOTIATIONS.

LONDON, Oct.’ 5‘

The final stage of the negotiations at Downing Street was conductedin the most amicable manner, and with an absence of former bitterness. The whole situation was discussed franklty. Mr -Lloyd George‘ briefly explained the new -ofier by means of which he hoped to re-open negotiations. The railwaymen and other unionists then retired to [ separate rooms, and subsequently eon-‘ fel'l'c(l together. ' Mr Lloyd Gedxvge invited the dele-I gates to remain to Tunch, which was :11 J'oVial function, settlement being now! assured. ‘ ‘ 3

After another short consultation with Mr Gosling, Mr Thomas aunnounced the acceptance of the ofier. Mr Thomas thanked Mr Lloyd George and Mr Bonar Law for tli‘oil' patience and consideration.

Mvr Lloyd George paid a tribute to the conciliatory spirit with wffich the delegates had conducted"fhe nego-fia-fions. If all labour -orrganisations acted sinlilarljy Britain would \enter upon new era of industrial peace and prosperity. \ ~ '

THANKSGIVING SERVICES HELD. THOMAS’ NOTABLE WORDS_ -Received 9.25 am. LONDON, Oct. 5. The spirit in which the settlement was received was evidenced at Albert Hall, where an audience of five thousand, after cheering the appearance of Mr Thomas on the platform, sang “Abide With Me” most impressively. The railwaymen at Penarth ‘held a thanksgiving service. There v.rel-c scenes of. rejoicing in all the great railway centres. .

Mr Thonihs, announcing the result at Albert Hall, said there was nothing. more dangerous =or~ calculated to im-. peril the life ‘of 'the.S-tate ‘than toenter upon a- war in-which one section. of the community was warring against -the ‘community as‘ a -whole. ~ .In . challenge to the State,_ whichever side won, disaster must 'follow_ If the challengers won the only alternative would be the end of ~ constitutional’ government; if the State Won bitternesg would follow, which would be .3 danger to the community. He recognised that citizenship was greater tl an sectional interest. The railwaymcn had no quarrel with the constitution of the country. They had come out solid, and remained solid. He wishedgthem to resume work equally as solid. He did not want to claim a great victory, because they could only win. a victory over an enemy. T-hey regarded the result as an honourable settlement, with which everybody must be pleased. The Times in a.-leader says the chief credit _for the settlement rests with the. Conciliation Committee, which secured concessions from the Government, and then used the utmost pressure upon the railwaymen. The only victory is to the general public, which proved its capacity -and deter-mination to defeat sectional uprisings The strike furthermore provided that as a result of the development 'ol’. machinery and electrical and motor. services, a successful holdup of the community w;«.s impossible. -The ‘ Times adds:' “We are passing through a legitimate and irresistable social change of -great magnitude, bringing a higher economic and social status for wageearners. This should be frankly [accepted and readjustments made.”

ALL’S WELL TEEIAT ENDS WELL.

NEWSPAPER OPINIONS.

Received 9.10 am.

LoNDol§, Nov. 6.

After conveying the neu'7'e of the settlement of the strike to the King at Buckingham Palace, Mr Lloyd George

motored into the country for a. short rest. ‘

Messrs Thomas and Brormley despatched 1500 telegrams )to railwaymen’s ‘branches, .reva.ding: “Return to Work immediately; satisfactory terms for everybod'y.” Telegrams arrived in many provincial centres during mass meetings, some of which had already Elecideld to support the railwaymerl. ' Newspapers emphasise the fact that sthe settlemenit ensures. fthe ‘peaceful Working of the railways for tweilve months, and -aifords an opportunity for the reeonstruction of the country’s main industries. '

The Dailyffelegraph hopeg the peace will endure. The result ac‘lu'ev~ed by the Government’s firm stand proves that any Wilder or.more ‘desperate attempts to dofiinate the community will be V.mct With the same determination and be crushil,li‘=’l.}’ defeated. ‘ A The Daily Express says -the Govern‘ment made a g'ell'el‘Olls and wise concession. A

The Morning Post .sta.€e_s— the ,strike, which’-was an gaxperinlent ~9l’ direct ac7ci'oil which rev~olutiona.ries had long. _'been .t'hl-ea;tening, ended. in disastrous, igrioln'i,niousT~A'failure_. . Other trade union.-3!, instead of fomowing the ra.il~

‘waymeu ’;s insane lead, 'ent‘cred into negot.ie‘r.ions_. thus perfornling a gfeat service to the State. I The Daily News considers 1110 defeat [of {he Governmenf would ‘have been a disastrous blow at the constitution. The defe.a't of the men would have involved ruin to trade unionism, because unions resolved to go under with the railwaymen. The conlies-t ended with credit to all concerned. 1 The Daily Chronicle says Mr Lloyd George rose to the great -occasion, and prevented the most memoiable sfrike in our history developing into a full realisation of the catastrophe.‘ L‘ It is es~fima’fed the strike cost theGovcrnment a. million daily, and pro. bably the cost to the nation in the aggregate is fifty millions.

RAILWAYMEN ACCEPT THE SETTLEMENT. '

LONDON, Oct. 5.

~A railwaynien ’s demonstration crowded the Albert Hall in the evening. Messrs Thomas and Cramp were given an ovation when they appeared on the platform. Mr Cramp described the strike as the greatest fight of organised workers in history. They had won a battle, not merely for tliemselves, but for a.ll workers. The settlement was the best that could possibly be obtained. He urged the railwaymen ‘to resume as solidly as they struck. Mr Thomas said that he was glad they had succeeded in keeping the dispute to a simple wages issue, avoiding dangers which might have arisen if other factors had been introduced. The railwaynien did not desire to defeat the Government. The settlenment was such as justified the action and vindicated the railway executive.’ The railwaymen could new resume without a trace of bitterness, :beoause they had achieved a settlement. which, thanks to Mr Lloyd George..was an honourable one on both sides; M; ‘ _ 5

" The; 111e__etiqgA,:carrieZd a :I."‘Csolu"cion accepting the settlement, and agreeing to return to Work to-In-orrow.

RAILWAYMEN ’s MISTAKE.

LONDON,. Oct;

It is too sbon"to sum up all tE"e~l'easons for the strikk}, but it is clear’ that insofar as it was an attempt to hold up the Government, it his been a. gigantic failure. The raill'w.aoylllo.n were out for eight days, and spent £300,000 in strike pay. without result. ‘They never succeeded at any time in imperilling the life. of the nation. For this result two facfors are chic-fly re.sponosible——-the ad. miréable ol'g-ani~sa’rion of en7=.ergency_ services by the Governnxeaif, and. the courageous and cheerful acquiscence of the whole public in the temporary inConvenience.

Mr J. R. Clynes fi*’l~i-tes in the Daily News: “Despite the apparent advantage, it is proved ’i:h.at lighfning strikes are more liable to fail than notified strikes, Because the public is indignant when suddenly pu-f. 't‘o loss and inconvenienCe.”. Mr Clyncs wal‘n_s -the men that they must learn to -look upon the public as a. jury, Whose support must be secured.

A DRAMATIC ENDING‘

‘LONDON, Oct. 5.

News of the settlement reached the country with the same dramatic suddepness as the strike began, and brought untold relief to immense» evening crowds in the streets. Friday night ’s failure left the outlook blackerand thousands enrolled in the Citizens’ Guard in response to the Government ’s appeal. Thus two great forces of citizens were marshalling hourly, and a. final clash appeared inevitable. A quickly spreading report that Mr B'onar Law had ofiered new wages proposals brought thousands to Downing Street in the morning. ‘People waited till after four o'clock, when the delegates emerged smiling, and Mr Brornley announced, “I am thankful to say all is Over now.” A cheering crowd stopped the passage of the delegates to their motor ears. Many eagerly shook hands with Mr Thomas . There was a hostile (le. monstration when Mr Eric Geddes a.p~ peared, but no a:ttem.pl; was made to mdlest him. There Were enthusisatie scenes of unity at the House, Where the flag was hoisted. An interval umust inevitably elapse before the railways are nfirmal again, and all main lines expect to be steadily increasing the improvement in the services.

‘London undergronzxcls will probablyi be mmning full service to-mom-ow night, - Mr Bromleyj, addrcssingg an lover-I flow meeting outside the A‘l’bcrt Hall.‘ said that all workers had reason to besatisfied with the result of their glor-I ious fight. \