STRIKE IN AMERICA.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1922, Page 5

STRIKE IN AMERICA.

BLOW TO FRUIT INDUSTRY. FACING HUGE LOSS. DISLOCATION OF TRAFFIC. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Aug. 16, 1.20 a.m. New York, August 15. Advices from San Francisco state that probably never in the history of the great fruit country has there developed such a - terrific transportation tie-up as is now effective in California. The fruitgrowers estimate irretrievable losses totalling £3,000,000, and what will happen if the railway paralysis lasts a fortnight leaves the country aghast. Bankers as well as growers are facing collapse. In the San Joaquin Valley alone 40,000 cars are loaded and only 2600 have i been moved. The grape-growers claim • they will lose £4,000,000 unless the situI ation clears within a week. It is estimated that 15,000 farm laborers have been I discharged by the growers, who have given up picking. Several trains which have been stalled in hot desert country finally reached Los Angeles, where the prostrated passengers were removed on stretchers.—Reuter. ‘TIGHT TO THE FINISH.” RAILWAY EXECUTIVE’S DECLARATION. New York, August 14. Anthracite operators in the Pennsylvania district and the striking miners have agreed to meet on Wednesday to discuss a settlement. Following the rejection of his settlement plan, it is learned that President I Hardmg means to let the railway strikI era fight it out. So long as the rail|ways are able to maintain a service approaching normal, the Government will not interfere, but should transportation collapse, the President will ask Congress to sanction a Federal seizure of the roads. Twenty women and children were hurt on an excursion train at Weehawken. New Jersey, when a dynamite bomb alleged to have been thrown by strikers, exploded on the track. Washington, August 14. The committee of the railway executive left the capital after the rejection of President Harding’s proposal for a settlement of the strike. They declare they are prepared to fight to the finish and do not expect further Government effort to arrange a com--1 promise. The railway labor organisations will confer this morning and the four big brotherhoods will continue mediation efforts.