IRISH STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 May 1920, Page 5

IRISH STRIKE.

RAILWAYMEN REFUS)E DUTY. WILL NOT HANDLE MUNITIONS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—(bopyrlght. Received May 25, 5.5 p.m. Londom. May 24. The latest development in t\ie Irish situation is the refusal of the Irish railwaymen to work trains conveying Government munitions, military sjtores, or Sinn Pein prisoners. I They based their action on the refusal of the British railwaymen to I handle munitions for Poland, the Irish Jrailwaymen declaring that they have an equal right to prevent the distribution of munitions which would be used to kill Irishmen. Thus far, soldiers are em'ployed as stevedores to unload ships, jwhich the dockers refuse to handle, but ii is expected the signalmen and other ilrish railwaymen will strike if military engineers are used to drive the trains. ,Much will depend upon whether the executive of the National! Union of Railwaymen approve ; of the action of the Irishmen. Thus far no reply haa been received from Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P. (General Secretary of the Union). When the railwaymen refused to carry Sinn Fein prisoners to Sligo, a military lorry was used, but felled trees and stone barricades blocked all roads around Ballinamore. The lorry only reached Sligo with the greatest, difficulty.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.