The Strike Settled

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 50, 21 August 1911, Page 5

The Strike Settled

Received 21, 12.30 a.m. London, August 20.

The Board of Trade, at half-past eleven to-night issued a statement as follows: "On the Government's representation the railways empowered Messrs. Claughton and Granet to confer with representatives selected by the joint executives of the railwaymen's and trades unions with a view to discuss with them the Board of Trade's suggested terms of settlement. The conference met at the Board of Trade offices, and was attended by the companies' and railwaymen's. representatives, and Messrs. LHoydGeorge, Buxton, Llewellyn-Smith, Asquith, and Ramsay Mac Donald. Mr. Claughton stated that Mr. Granet and he were authorised to meet the men's representatives under the special circumstances. He added that the suggested' terms had been discussed and agreed to. Messrs. Claughton and Granet further stated that the commission's recommendations would be loyally accepted, even though adverse to the companies' contention, on any question of representation, and in the event of settlement any traces of ill-will arising from the strike would certainly be effaced. After a prolonged discussion the following settlement was unanimously' reached and signed, and the strike terminated forthwith:— All involved in the strike or lockout, applying in a reasonable time, are to be reinstated at the earliest practicable moment. No proceedings are to be taken for breach of contract. The Conciliation Board is to be convened to settle questions now in dispute. If the sectional boards fail to "rrive at a settlement, the central bo;: .1 will meet immediately. GOVERNMENT PROMISES FRESH LEGISLATION. BOTH PARTIES BOUND BY THE FINDINGS. Received 21, 12.20 a.m. London, August 20. Steps are to be taken forthwith to settle the disputes between the companies and those classes of employees not included in the scheme of 1907 by conferences between representatives of the companies and representatives of the employees, who are employed by the same company, and, failing an agreement, then an Arbitration Commission, composed of five members, including an impartial chairman, will be instructed to investigate the working of the 1907 scheme and report as expeditiously as | possible, as changes are desirable with a view to prompt settlement of the differences. Assurances are given that both parties will abide by the findings. The Government has promised to legislate next session regarding the increase of the cost of labor due to the improvement in conditions of the staff and the valid justification for a reasonable general increase in charges within the legal maximum. LIGHTERMEN'S STRIKE OVER. THE RAILWAYMEN'S UNION'S ANNOUNCEMENT. Recei.-ed 21, 1.5 a.m. London, August 20. The Railwaymen's Union at midnight telegraphed to its branches as follows: •'The joint committee has settled the strike. A victory for trade unionists. All must resume immediately." The lightermen's dispute has been settled. ALL TRAFFIC STOPPED IN LIVERPOOL. ENROLLING 4000 SPECIAL CONSTABLES. Received 20, 5.5 p.m. London, August 19] In the House of Commons Mr. Churchill defended the maintenance of food supplies, because the poorest classes and the workers were the greatest sufferers. All traffic is stopped in the Liverpool streets. Members of the Cotton Exchange have offered to do porters' work. A Red Cross Transport has been or-gan!--"d, which is amplying supplying the hospital requirements. Four tlioi'-and special constables have been enrolled. DEATH RATE ALMOST DOUBLED. SINFUL WASTE OF FOOD. EXCITEMENT AT MIRMINGHAM. Received 20, 5.5 p.m. London, August 19. It is feared that half a million pounds' worth of provisions in cold storage will become tainted, owing to insufficient supply of coal for the refrigerators. The death rate in the city has almost doubled in a few days. The Home Office asked Mr. T. O'Connor 'nd Colonel Kyffin-Taylor, Commoners, to report what measures are neces-

Result of a Conference A Victory for Trades Unionism _ « All Resume Work at Once By Oable—Press Association—Copyright

sary to restore better relations between the various classes at Liverpool, and also as to the state of the food supplies. There -was great excitement in Birmingham last night when the conveying of meat from the station led to encounter» with, strikers, the police making many baton charges'. FACTORIES CLOSING DOWN IN MANCHESTER. FOOD SUPPLIES RUNNING SHORT. Received 20, 5.5 p.m. ! London, August 19. Many industries in Manchester are shutting -down, owing to the lack of coal transport. Only a few days' food supplies are available. Soldiers arc guarding all the electric power stations in London. THE RAILWAYMEN'S STRIKE. NEARLY EVERY SERVICE WILL STOP. Received 20, 5.5 p.m. London, August 19. The Amalgamated Railwaymen's Association has authorised strike pay at the rate of 10s weekly. The executive states that Wo hundred and twenty thousand have struck, and predict that Monday will see nearly every service stopped. Their union funds total £197,560, and' provident funds, which are not applicable to strikers, £243,625. Mr. Thomas, M.P., assistant secretary of the Railway Servants' Association, speaking at Euston, said that if the companies would meet the men face to face they could settle the difficulties in five minutes. But the companies' refused, so the men's only alternative was to fight. He regretted that the public and the trade of the' nation were suffering, but the responsibility rested with the companies. There could be no settlement which victimised or boycotted anyone. Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald, M.P., and other Laborii.es, are urging the men's executive to accept Mr. Asquith's proposal. The Primate is preparing a special prayer for the labor crisis. The Home Office reports that about two-thirds of the railwaymcn remain at their posts. The Times declares that the real issue is the admission of union lenders to conciliation boards. The North-Eastern Railway for a long time permitted such access, and that line suffered more tian others through constant friction and the present strike. AGITATORS IN BERLIN. Received 20, 5.5 p.m. Berlin, August 19. The Tagl'ische Rundschau reports that the Social Democrats are endeavoring to promote a traffic strike in Berlin. A CONFERENCE. A BATTLE AT FISHGUARD. LIVERPOOL QUIETER. HOLIDAY-MAKERS PANIC-STIRCKEN. Received 1!), 5 p.m.' London, August 19. A strike conference, between shipowners, the National Transport Workers and the. Board of Trade, Air. .Tohn Burns presiding, is in progress. It has arranged an agreement providing that men employed discharging overseas vessels must be engaged outside dock premises. The railway executive sat until midnight, and adjourned until this morning. Fifty-eight thousand troops are placed at the disposal of the military commanders within the strike areas. The Irish express at Fishguard was barred by strikers. A party of troops returning from furlough fixed bayonets, drove the strikers back and released the train. Liverpool is quieter, but although there were a few isolated attacks on banks and hotels there was no serious outbreak during the last twenty-four hours. Panic-stricken holiday-makers, rushing homewards, increased the congestion on tie restricted train services. The trains were stoned near Bradford. Railway points were tampered with at Riverbridge and York, but the discovery was made in time to prevent harm resulting. The railwaymcn at Edinburgh have decided to strike forthwith. TURBULENT CONDITIONS AT SHEFFIELD. COLLIERIES CLOSE-30,000 IDLE. London, August 18. Turbulent conditions exist at Sheffield. The mob attempted to tear up the railway line to prevent the conveyance of police, but were frustrated. I The crowd lassoed the driver of a beer lorry, and brutally assaulted him. They burst the barrels, and indulged in an ovgy.

, The police cleared the street with hi;mil cliur'ji.s. I The mob succeeded in blockading the coal depots, causing the stoppage of several works, and idling thousands. The local Territorials at Newcastle have been ordered to return their rifles to the armoury. A meeting of railwaymcn of the principal lines in Dublin decided to strike to-day. Several collieries in the vicinity of Manchester, employing 30,000 men, have closed. Pickets at the suburban stations, failing to induce the signalmen to have their posts, cut the signal and telegraph wires. Colonel Secly, in the House of Commons, said that where possible the reading of the Riot Act would be preceded by <a bugle-call. In reply to a query he said that it was understood that the first volley should be blank cartridges. Sixteen thousand troops are now encamped in London. The fishing industry is paralysed, causing a'daily loss of £IO,OOO. The police at various centres are arranging for citizens to act as special constables. Tom Mann, replying to the shipowners, said he hoped final negotiations j would he resumed in a few days. The ironworks, which have rendered idle several thousands of Cambrians at Ton-y-pandy, resume on the basis of the London agreement drafted in May. PARLIAMENT WILL SIT DURING CRISIS. London, August 18. Parliament remains sitting during the crisis. Mr. Churchill foreshadowed larger measures if they should be necessary. Troops are guarding most of the London stations and main lines throughout the suburbs. The railway strike only partially affects London. Those concerned in the provinces arc considering Mr. Asquith's proposal. The men allege that 200,000 employees have struck throughout the countTy, FURTHER DISORGANISATION. CRUISER CARRIES FOODSTUFFS. London, August 19. The West of England is isolated from the Midlands. The services from Fishguard to Swansea and many industrial centres in the North of England are stopped, and there is a partial suspension in Bristol and Cardiff. The majority of the Midlands men in the potteries district have accepted a bonus offered by the company to the men who remain loyal. Six hundred troops have reached Leicester. Traffic at Abereairn is suspended, and it is expected 20,000 colliers will be h"e to-morrow. Tile Territorials at Salford were, ordered to return their rifles. A roll-call was held of the Royal Engineers to ascertain the men capable of driving locomotives. One hundred and fifty vessels are held up at Cardiff, and 40 at South Shields. The cruiser Warrior carried foodstuffs to the Isle of Man. Colliers at Nottingham held up many Mansfield trains, and the service has been abandoned. Goods traffic at Nottingham is at a.j standstill. The strikers attacked six waggmloads of meat leaving Birmingham goods station, and after a sharp fight with the police tlie strikers were repulsed. The traffic in Lancashire is greatly disorganised. Heywood is isolated. | The cottonmills will be unable to open on Monday owing to the lack of cotton, j Mr. Churchill, in the House of Commons, said the Government was taking steps to ensure uninterrupted supplies of food, fuel and other essentials. It must be clearly understood, he said, that the people's food supply and the. country's safety were more important than anything else. The House adjourned till Tuesday. An express was held up in South Wales for ten hours. THIRTY-SEVEN MILES OF HELD-UP TRAINS. PORTSMOUTH BLUEJACKETS IN READINESS. London, August 18. Two signal-boxes in Monmouthshire were set on fire. Thirty-seven miles of siding at Rowsley are filled with trains. Bluejackets at Portsmouth have been ordered to be in readiness for garrison duties in the event of the troops starting for the strike areas. Public-houses at Birkenhead have been ordered to be closed at two in the afternoon owing to the strike riots. FAMINE TN LIVERPOOL. London, August 18. The railway managers, after interviewing Air. Buxton, decided not to meet the Board of Trade officials again until there was some change in the men's attitude. Viscount Elibank has issued a whip stating that Mr. Asquitli, in view of the grave situation in the country, asked the House, to reassemble on Tuesday. The railwaymcn arc urging the Loudon tiamwaymen to strike. A battalion of Lancers from Chester is proceeding to Liverpool, where the Lord Mayor fears the famine will cause looting in the poorer districts. A HITCH SETTLED. EXTENT OF THE STRIKE. London, August 18. A hitch in the transport workers' agreement has been settled, and the agreement signed, .confirming Sir Albert Rollitt's award.

The London and suburban service is fairly maintained in the early part of the day, but is more difficult later. Soldiers are acting as porters, signalmen and shunters at some stations.

The latest reports show that the strike is effective in the North of England and South Wales, and partially effective in the Midlands, but practically unsuccessful in the South of England.