Strikes in England

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 43, 12 August 1911, Page 5

Strikes in England

TROOPS ORDERED OUT. ADVANCING ON LONDON. ARMED WITH BALL CARTRIDGE. THREATENING CONDITIONS AT LIVERPOOL. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, August 10. Though the strike of London dockers, carmen and lightermen is no worse, all the Aldershot command is moving to London forthwith, Dragoons and other cavalry by road, and the infantry by rail. They have been provided with ball cartridges, and all the available motors and steam tractors are carrying food fodder.

The strike situation in Liverpool is threatening. Pickets prevent goods leaving the docks and railway depots. The goods service of the district is held up, and the passenger service dislocated. There have been numerous disorders and outrages, including the overturning of a brewer's dray and the knocking in of the bungs and distributing beer to the mob.

Mr. Thomas, M.P., secretary of the Society of Railwaymen, declared that discontent was steadily growing among all grades. Grievances were numerous, and in particular there was complete dissatisfaction with the work of the conciliation boards, which, throughout, favored the employers. It was also exceedingly difficult to get their decisions put into operation. The combinations and pooling arrangements of the great lines were affecting the workers adversely. The situation had arisen spontaneously, as the union had not organised the strike, and non-unionists were receiving strike pay. Half the strikers are non-unionists.

Mr. Thomas added that London may be completely isolated and food supplies cut off.

The London Omnibus Company has withdrawn one-third of its omnibusos, owing to the shortage of petrol, of which only three days' supply remains. The steamer Turakina landed her passengers at Plymouth. Some London streets are as quiet as on Sundays, when commercial vehicular traffic has ceased. Extra police have been drafted to the strike areas. Crowds at Paddington prevented vans leaving. There have been many isolated cases of personal injuries and arrests. Fish porters at Billingsgate refused to work unless 2s per hour was pai<l. The masters conceded the demand. Mr. Askwith has arranged a - •ttloment with the coal porters, an.! the agreement is being signed giving increased wages and other concessions. Conditions at Liverpool are rapidly becoming worse. Detachments of the Warwickshire Regiment and 200 Irish Constabulary have arrived. There were riotous scenes at the Central Station. MILITARY ESCORTING FOOD. WITH FIXED BAYONETS . RIOTOUS PROCEEDINGS. FREQUENT CONFLICTS WITH POLICE. MORE PROTECTION FOR LIVERPOOL. Received 11, 10.55 p.m. London, August 11. The troeps at Aldershot are sleeping in their clothes. The Hussars were entrained at 10 o'clock, the Queen's Bays and 3rd Dragoflns following. The Royal Irish Rifles and Worcestershire regiments at Dover are confined to their barracks, in readiness to proceed to London. Officers on leave have been recalled. Similar arrangements have been made with the troops at Colchester, where trains are held in readiness.

It is understood it is intended that foodstuffs with he. escorted by troops with fixted bayonets from the docks.

The Army Service Corps has sent forty motor lorries to the docks to draw food and forage to Aldershot. The troops at Woolwich Garrison were without yesterday until the troops fixed bayonets and assisted the contractors.

Riotous proceedings were witnessed, and business is dislocated in all parts of London.

It is estimated that 500,000 tons of goods are detained at the docks, exclusive of food and other commodities coming by railways. Many lorries and motor vans were overturned in the Paddington district, where the Great Western Railway pickcters are very energetic. Fifty per cent, of the London General Motor Company's omnibuses have been withdrawn. Twelve hundred men are thus thrown idle.

Australian mutton, usually retailed at 3d per 11).. is now fid.

Mr. Kier Hardie, M.P., speaking at Tower Hill, advised the men to make the most of having brought London near to starvation.. ''The masters starve you. sweat you," he said, "so pay them backin their own coin." Eleven thousand railwaymen are strik- '"? at Liverpool. Four thousand are in enforced idleness. Two thousand carters and 6000 dockers are boycotting the goods depots in sympathy. Frcnuent conflicts have taken place with the police, who were pelted with bricks, glass and apnles. Upwards of a hundred charged with batons. Many outrages are reported. A hundred strikers followed a dray laden with fowls, smashed the crates and liberated the birds. The Lord Mayor of Liverpool has issued a proclamation warning strikers that the military are available to assist the police. If necessary he would invoke the Riot Act. Four hundred of the Warwickshire Regiment have arrived, also police from Leeds and Birmingham, and 200 Irish Constabulary.