THE HOME STRIKE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10400, 22 August 1911, Page 5

THE HOME STRIKE

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United Tress Association—By Electric Telegraph — Copyright.

THE MEN'S MANIFESTO. SPECIAL CONSTABLES DIS- * BANDED. (Received Last Night, 9.5 o'clock. LONDON, August 21. The Lord Mayor lias disbanded the special city constables. Each wins pre en ted with a baton and armlets, as mementos. The Railwayman's Executive has issued a joint manifesto, which declares that in recognition of their negotiations in the present dispute their evidence before the commission will win in a few weeks a charter long enjoyed by .every other class. The manifesto urges a loyal acceptance of the agreement. They have, it says, shown their power, and taug.ht their opponents a lesson. Their loyalty has swept away the petty tyranny that for years has been a cause of so much unrest. The manifesto adds: "A settlement was reached only after Mr Buxton's statement that the lock-out at Liverpool would be withdrawn." Immediately after the railway set- ] tlement was reached, Mr Williams, f addresving a railway men's demonstral tion in Hyde Park, said the committee was aproached with a proposal for a Royal Commission.. There was a great prejudice against this, but they were now convinced that the offer wins legitimate and sincero and that the terms of reference were such as had never before given any Commission. It had been resolved by the irki to resume, although, they did i not accept the terms as a full settleof their demands. A motor, with Messrs Keir Hardie and G. N. Barnes abroad, struck the side of a bank in a narrow mountain roadway at Merthyr. Both were thrown out and severely shaken. The news of the agreement met with a mixed reception in the provinces. The railwaymen at Leeds and Brad- : ford were not enthusiastic.

A meeting of some thousands at Manchester greeted the references to the strike leaders with cries of "Traitors I" A resolution in favour of resumption of work was angrily rejected, but later great numbers resumed. Many speakers at Bristol declared that it was doubtful whether they eveii ought to resume work till the full terms of their demands were conceded. The Sheffield men will not resume until the carters' dispute is settled. . The railwaymen at Liverpool criticised the settlement as not embodying the promise of material advantages, but resolved to resume to-morrow. Those at Birkenhead doubted if the settlement was a victory and threatened to again strike unless the local dockers' demands were conceded. Tihe settlement has failed to give much satisfaction in Birmingham. Crewe, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. There are indications that the re"nimption of work will be general today even in the disappointed centres. Serious disturbances occurred at Lincoln on Saturday night. A mob attacked the Greath Northern and Midland station and stoned the police. The latter made constant baton, charges. Hundreds of shop windows were smashed, whilse two constables and many rioters were injured. , Brewery offices were also set on fire. The Riot Act was'read. At two o'clock in tho morning the military was summoned, and the mob wan dispersed. Some rioting is also reported from Dublin, where ono hundred and twenty persons received minor injuries. Hooligans at Tredgar, profiting by the labour troubles, looted the shops of eighteen Jews.

THE POSITION INDEFINITE. SOME MEN REMAIN ON STRIKE. RIOTS AT LLANELLY. (Received Last Night, 10.15 o'clock.) LONDON, August 21. The position in regard to the NorthEastem railwaymen is indefinite. The Railway Servants Society con-tends-that the settlement entitles them to resume, while the manager replies that they return as required. The whole situation will be discussed at a special Board meeting. Meanwhile they are outside the dispute. This has caused dissatisfaction at Newcastle, Hull, York, and Scarborough. Those asking to resume at York are not permitted, consequently the nailwaymen at York and Hull resolved to remain on strike. Many Llanelly rioters were maddened by drink. e Two explosions occurred, and one man was mutilated and unrecognisable. Another mob wrecked and plundered the premises belonging to the magistrates concerned in the reading of the Riot Act. The Strike Committee at Liverpool has resolved to instruct the seamen, dockers, and carters not to resume pending the result of the negotiations. This decision will affect fifty thousand men. Tom Mann anticipates that the joint meeting of shippers and men will discuss the situation. It is predicted that all transport workers will resume to-morrow, provided that to-day's negotiations are satisfactory. The Home Office reports that order

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lias been restored at Llanelly, and tranquility prevails throughout the country. It adds: "Although the Kltit'enient has been received with satisfaction in Liverpool, the local position is not relieved. The committee of enquiry and mediation is reporting constantly to the Goverrij memt." I The prospects of a settlement ate j not unfavourable. SATURDAY'S MISDEEDS. SITUATION STILL DELICATE. A TEMPORARY SETTLEMENT. (Roocived Last Night, 11 o'clock.) LONDON, August 21. Saturday's misdeeds included a,ll attempt to wreck the AccringtonToclmorden. passenger train, a riot at Birkenhead, and looting at Neath. The newspapers congratulate the Government on the success of its efforts to cope with the UTip receded - ted emergency of the railwaymen's strike. Hopes are expressed' that an effective settlement will follow. The concensus of opinion is thiat the situation is still delicate, requiring eaireful handling. The good sense and conciliatory spirit shown on, hotli sides in Saturday's agreement is warmly commended . Mr Thomas, in an interview, described the agreement as temporary and contingent. Tlie Times remarks that Saturday was the crucial clay. Had the strike spread, precluding an effective paralysis' of the railways, ao settlement would have been reached; but it became clear that the traffic would not be paralysed, only interfered with sufficiently to cause intense public irritation, and with succeeding days the situation, would have 'improved as the Companies mastered the difficulties and filled the depleted staffs'. Unless the strikers could carry the position' by an assault from the outset-, they could mot succeed. It .became evident 011 Saturday that they had failed to do so, and the one' essential condition was the protection, afforded the lines, for 'which the Government deserved full credit, particularly Mr Winston Churchill, who had taken to heart the lesson of the clanger to be incurred by tampering with disorder. It was undoubted that, but for the presence o fthe troops,great disorder would have occurred in many parts of the country. The strike was an outbreak of syndieatism, in revolt against .society. To a great extent it was forced upon, the "Union Executive, who, seeing the strike would fail, wisely accepted the Government's olive' branch. There had been a tendency, to iblame Mr Asquith for a blunder in, making the original offer; but had the Union committee • intended to accept, it would immediately have asked for details of the proposals. It was what had happened since the strike was declared which had changed 'their mind, coupled with the Companies concession for conferring directly with them. This was due to the Government's guarantee that power would be given to raise the railway charges. Mr Herbert Emery, a member of the Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Congress, addressing the railwaymen at HanJey, stated that he attended Thursday's negotiations. When. Mr Bellamy asked, "Have yo.u endeavoured to get the companies to meet the men's representatives?" Mr Asquith replied in the negative. Therefore, .Mr Asquith had failed in his duty as Premier; for everything now arranged could have been arranged on Thursday. The Daily Chronicle declares that the nation will gladly pay increased rates beyond the present .maximum in order to raise the railwaymen's wages to a decent minimum. LONDON TRAMWAYS. A STRIKE THREATENED. Received This Morning, 12.40 o'clock. LONDON, August 21. The tramwaymen are balloting on the question of a strike.