THE RECENT STRIKE AT HOME

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 105, 24 October 1911, Page 7

THE RECENT STRIKE AT HOME

WOMEX STRIKE SITFEUERS. Woman and children suffered terribly in the recent railway strikes in England. The Daily Chronicle writes:—Between 10.000 and 1.-),000 holhhiymakers, many' penniless, left Blackpool by road for I home on Saturday, and the scenes of .sull'cring were of a most pitiahle character. Invalids, jniirm old people, and sickly children were among the thousands who tramped. It might linve been a great pilgrimage from an infected city. In most instances the engagement of rooms had expired, and although in countless instances landladies were touched by their visitors' sad predicament, and helped them with extended accommodation and oftentimes with money, there were scores of cases where the people, were turnt'd into the street absolutely without, means. The more for-i tunate chartered motor vans and spring carts at t~> a vehicle; even furniture vans wire pressed into service, and score- of people, travelled in that way to Preston, in the hope of being able at that junction to gel a train home. Three Ashlou mill girls were found tramping front Blackpool without shoes, stockings, .food or money, mid .Mrs. Cookson. wife of a Preston doctor, gave them a lift on her motor-car and provided them with food anil money. Similar incidents of kind-heartedness are reported from Blackburn, whither thousands of trippers tramp .1 from the seaside. The Blackburn police and .local gentlemen sent motor-cars, carriages, and nourishments to succour the fainting women and children. Bailies established a stall at the borough entrance where, until early yesterday morning, refrc-hmenf s were provided gratis for the weary travellers. A mother with four children tramped SO miles pushing her little ones in a bassinette. Her hlistered feet were wrapped in wet cloths, and she reached home in a stale of collapse. 'Two boys who had su-tained broken limbs were carried niile> bv their mothers.