THE STRIKE IN BRITAIN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 294, 8 June 1912, Page 5

THE STRIKE IN BRITAIN

|. CONFLICTS TVITH THE POLICE. Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, June 6. ■ Several encounters have taken place at Tilbury between the strikers and the police, but the lattera' baton charges proved too much for the men. 1 NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE. ; STRIKERS STILL ON EDGE. t London, June 6. The council of the Transporters' Federation has decided to affiliate with the International Federation, and is also arranging a national strike, unless it Immediately receives guarantees protecting hours, wages and working conditions. The employers and employed met Mr. Lloyd George separately, and negotiations for a settlement are progressing. Two thousand more men are engaged at the docks, making a total of eight thousand. Several rough scuffles occurred outside the docks, in which goods were damaged. Thirteen hundred police escorted a convoy of Australian ana, '•tker produce half a mile long from Victoria Docks to the city. THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL.

CIVIL WAR THREATENING. THE HOULDER LINE. Received 7, 10.5 p.m. London, June 7. The Government suggests that tiiirtysix employers, three from each dozen sectional organisations and a similar number of the men, should discuss the rates of wages. It suggests that breaches of agreement should be considered by a panel of three from each side, with an Independent chairman. It is understood that the employers insist that a federation of all the interests ®f the Port of London is impracticable, and have asked for time until Monday lor furth'er consideration. Mr. Gosling and Mr. Tillett announce that the Transport Council has told the Government that unless the masters grant the men's reasonable claims to-day a national strike will be declared. Mr. Tillett adds that he told Mr. Haldane that if he permitted capitalists to arm civilian police with revolvers and truncheons they would arm the strikers with similar weapons. In the House of Commons Mr. McKenna said that in the case of the Houlders it did not matter protecting men ordinarily working for the fleet, but the firm was protecting men brought in specially as strike-breakers. Hitherto the strikers had behaved with great restraint, but if strike-breakers were brought to the ships a new element would be introduced that was bound to provoke disorder.

POLICE PROTECTION. Received 7, 11.30 p.m. London, June 7. In the House of Commons, replying to Mr. Bandury, Mr. MacKenna stated tnat Houlder Bros, asked for protection for free laborers whom ther shipped. He replied instructing the police to send a hundred only if it was intended to protect foodstuffs and assist in supressing disorders. It was not political work to resist the employers if their actions were primarily intended to provoke disorder.