THE HOME STRIKES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10402, 24 August 1911, Page 5

THE HOME STRIKES

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QUARRYMEN CEASE WORK.

RAILWAYMEN'S TROUBLE

ABATING

POSITION IMPROVED GENERAL-

(Received Last Night, 10.25 o'clock.)

LONDON, August 23. - The Railways Enquiry Commission meets to-day. The railwaymen at Durham protested at the composition of the Commission. They demanded a further labour representation. » Five hundred permanent quarrymen employed at the wharves at Tower Bridge have struck. The wharves affected are chieflly engaged in short voyage trade. The Right Hon. H. H. Asquith, speaking at Manchester, announced ) a settlement of the carters' dispute. Overtime and hours have been reduced to the minimum. None above the minimum were lowered thereto. The railway goods men at Manchester have resumed. The non-union tramwaymen at Liverpool largely outnumbered the Unionists, who have struck. The former did not strike, but they threaten to strike if the unionists are reinstated. Work has been partially resumed at the goods depots, but a procession of railwaymen induced one third of the workers to again ceas«. \ The Shipowners' Committee has decided against a resumption in the docks at present. After a long conference at York be-tween-the men.'s executive and the company, the North-Eastern railway dispute was settled. The men have advised that they will resume to-day. Emergency engine drivers at "West Hartlepool were mobbed, while numerous intimidations also took place at i Hull. . . I Orders for enormous quantities of goods, which are packed at Birming- I ham and other cities ready for ship- , ment have been cancelled owing to the 1 strike. 1 Business i has been diverted abroad j The Midland Railway will reinstate j applicants at the old rates of pay.

Mr Granet .ordered all to be reinstated without discrimination. ; All the public houses in the disturbed areas in Dublin are closed at, seven every night. The biscuit makers will resume, pending a settlement of the wage question.

RAILWAY INQUIRY COMMISSION

THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY

MOVEMENTS OF THE MILITARY

(Received Last Night, 10.55 o'clock.)

LONDON, August 23. Lord Haldane. in- announcing the names of the Railway Inquiry Commissioners, said ' that the Goverh- , ment's policy throughout was to avoid hloqdshed and protect life, limb, and liberty. The country was | divided into districts, and each was | tinder picked officers. The latter J were instructed to be in close comI munication with civil authorities. It \is obvious that even with the fifty- | eight thousand troops at their dis- \ posal it was impossible to cover every point, He was anxious not to send

troops where they were not needed, while at the great disaster that some had been killed it was better ] that it should be shown that the law had a firm hand. A survey had proved that the real rioters were not the workmen on strike. In the House of Commons, Mr Winston Churchill, in reply to questions,\ declared that he had informed the Lord Mayor of Liverpool that he did not intend to relax the military and police precautions, while the necessity exists. • Regarding the despatch of the military to Blackburn before the civil authorities were consulted, he said the troops were sent by the general officer commanding the district in pursuance of a scheme to protect the railways and maintain law and order. The officers commanding were given complete direction in those respects. The military authorities always enjoyed the right of moving troops about country, where it was thought convenient or necessary.

vCLOUDS LIFTED,

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS.

THE HOUSE ADJOURNED.

(Received Last Night,, 11.20 o'clock.)

LONDON, August .23. In the House of Commons, Mr Asquith declared that the' clouds had lifted from both parties. He agreed to an immediate investigation by an impartial tribunal. The great point to-day was not apportion, praise or blame, but to make a. settlement effective. The Commission should be enabled to start freely and fairly on their most responsible mission. The House cheered when Mr A. Henderson's name was mentioned, the majority welcoming it as a guarantee that peace was in sight. Mr Ramsay Macdonald., expressed

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his satisfaction at the personnel of the Commission. The settlement was a f;ood one if it was honestly fulfilled. He accused the Home Office of playing a diabolical part in the whole of the unrest, and that Mr Churchill's strike bulletins were inaccurate and gave great offence. They made the men more diiinclined to come to a settlement. Mr Churchill's fussy interference was based on the desire to see himself in print. Mr G. N. Barnes stated that he had just been to Merthyr, Ponty-Pridd, and Newport, and the men there were keenly dissatisfied with the settlement. He trusted that the Commission would concern itself in increased wages, reduced hours, and better living conditions, otherwise there would be anpther railway strike. He would do everything to help it. Mr Churchill, in reply, said he had done his obvious duty in forcing obedience to the laws of the Government'. He had no alternative. Had the strike lasted a. week there would have been a total cessation of employment, implying starvation. The emergency justified the measures taken. These were absolutely constitutional. The Government was bound to use the whole power of the State to protect the food supply and the transport of goods. The task set the military in keeping the railways running and protecting the workers had averted incalculable disasters. The House adjourned until October 24th.

GRAVE DISORDERS AT DARLING TON.

Received This Morning, 12.40 o'clock

- LONDON, August 23. Grave disorders have.occurred on the North Eastern railway at Darlington and Newsheldon, the mobs preventing the.delivery of goods under a police escort, and maltreating engine-drivers.