THE RAILWAY STRIKE

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1919, Page 5

THE RAILWAY STRIKE

~j rnmmn betqksngat- . .. , NEWSPAPER COMMENTS. 27 Tdtmsli*-FM! Asm.—Copyright. *■ London, Oct. 6. Tfie spirit in which the settlement Aru received was evidenced at the Albert Hall, where the audience of 5000, pfter cheering the appearance of Mr {Thomas on the platform, sang "Abide jrtth mP most impressively. i The railwaymen at Penarth held a thanksgiving service. There were Scenes of rejoicing in all the great railjray centres. Mr Thomas, in announcing the result At the Albert Hall, said'there was nothing Bora dangerous or calculated to imperil the life of the State than to enter upon a war in which one section of the oomnranrty was warring against the oonnmrnity as a whole in a challenge 't» the State. Whichever side won disaster must follow. If the challengers won the only alternative would be the end of eemtrttrtfonal government, if the State won bitterness would follow, which Would he a danger to the community. He recognised that citizenship was greater than sectional interest. The rattwaynen had no quarrel with the prostitution of Hie country. They had come out solid and remained solid. He .wished them to resume work equally solid. '"He did not want to daim a great victory, because they could only win a victory over an enemy. They regarded the result as an honorable settlement with which everybody must be pleased. The Times, in a leader, says that 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 determination to defeat sectional uprisings. The Btrike furthermore proved that, as the result of the development of machinery, electrical and motor services, a successful hold-up of the community •was impossible. Tie Times adds: "We are passing through a legitimate and irresistible social change of great magnitude, bringing a higher economic and social status for the wage-earners. This should be frankly accepted and readjustments made." Newspapers emphasise the fact that *he settlement' ensures the peaceful . working of the railways for twelve months and affirds an opportunity for the reconstruction of the country's main industries. The Jfcily Telegraph hopes that peace Will endure. The result achieved by the Government's firm stand proves that any of the wilder and more desperate attempts to dominate the community will be met with the same determination and crushingly defeated. The Daily Express says the Government made a generous and wise concession. • The Morning Post states that the strike was an experiment in direct action which the revolutionaries have long been threatening and ended in disastrous and ignominious failure. Other trade unions, instead of following the tailwaymen'g insane lead, entered into negotiations with the Government, thus • performing great service to the State. The Daily News considers that the defeat of tbe Government would have been a disastrous blow at the constitution. The defeat of the men would have involved ruin to trade unionism, because the unions had resolved to go under •With the railwaymen. The contest ended with credit to all concerned. The IDaily Chronicle says that Mr IJoYd George rose to the great occasion and prevented the most memorable Strike in otrr histery developing into the intl realisation of a catastrophe. It is estimated that the strike cent ,fthe Government a million daily. Probably the cost to the nation in the ag%«regate will be ftftv millions.

ABSENCE OF BOLSHEVISM. JHE LESSON OF THE STRIKE. i London, Oct. 6. /he newspapers generally • comment en the absence of Bolshevist ideas £Mong the workers. The Times states that Mr Thomas triumphed finally over the group of extremists in the railwayman's executive on Sunday afternoon, when he courageously insisted, upon the acceptance of the terms.

The Westminster Gazette says that events have dispelled the idea of a Bolshevist conspiracy. T«- union's lead era acted the reverse of a revolutionary part, doing their utmost to confine the dispute and procure a moderate settlement.

I*nbnr leaders, interviewed, generally emphasise thf point that all the workers will eventually benefit br the concessions obtained for the railwayman and the increased solidarity of the trade unions. .

Mr Frank Hodges, secretary of the Miners' Federation, says' that the lesson of the strike is that the whole of the trade unions must be consulted when a strike of this magnitude is contemplated, and much more comprehensive plans made before the movement 5s undertaken. Mr Ottrady, of the General Workers' Federation', says that all now realise that the trade union movement Is a biff factor in the nation's industrial life and that neither strike nor a lnekont is possible unless a vital issue is fnvnlrpd.

Mr Thomas announce* that the jnpn penerntlr are accepting tbp spttlpmpnt. though pomp refuse to work with blarkles*. or volunteer*. He reminds ptstrikprs of thp victimisation elansp, which ntrolipi to both sides, and deelarps that thp nation was never nearer civil war but it emerged from the pre»t trial .successfully.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

Aftpr convpving the new* of the settlement of the strikp to the Kinff at ftnekWhsm Palace Mr Lloyd Geofffe motored into the country for a short rect.

Messrs Thomas and Bromley dispatched ISM telesrams to the railwarmen's branches reading: "Return to work immpdistely; satisfactory terms for everybody."

UtENCS fRAISE LLOYD GEORGE. Received Oct. 7, 8.40 p.m. Paris, Oct. 8. rue newspapers applaud Mr. Lloyd George's firmness in the defence of a principle, and declare that the manner of the settlement definitely checks the spread .of rwjdutwnaiy actioDv—Aua.-

RESUMPTION OF WORK, MOTOR LORRIES TO RELIEVE! CONGESTION, ... ! ■i ■ ■ • ' .'. Received Oct. 7, 8.40 p.m. . London, Oct. 6. I The railwaymen have universally resumed. A few cases of alleged victimisation were quickly adjusted. The Ministry of Transport announces that as soon as the surplus of Government motor lorries have finished food distribution they will be available to relieve the congestion on the railway? and at the ports.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. .MACHINERY FOR SETTLING DISPUTES. 1 • CENTRAL UNION EXECUTIVE NEEDED. ! Received Oct. 7, 11.45 p.m. London, Oct. 7. The Daily Express learns that the Government is considering measures for developing conciliatory machinery for all industries in order to reduce the possibility of strikes. It intends to create a system of arbitration courts with a supreme appeal tribunal. The Government looks to the joint Industrial Council as a helpful agency. Mr. Gosling announces that as one of the results of the strike it is suggested that a central executive should be; created, empowered to act for the whole of the trade unionism in negotiations With the Government, with o view -to preventing stoppages.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, • k*