GENERAL STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 43, 21 February 1927, Page 7

GENERAL STRIKE.

CHINESE AIMS. Manifesto of Long List of Demands. SEAL OBJECT HOT STATES. (By Cable. —Press Association.—Copyright) (Received 10.30 a.m.) SHANGHAI, February 20. There was a little development in the strike situation to-day, bttt owing to it being Sunday it is not possible to determine the exact extent; It is estimated that between S0,000! and 100..000 workers are idle. Intimida- • tion is playing a great part. Crews of the International Settlement Buses have finally been forced out. so that public transportation is confined \ to riekshas and the hire of public motor 1 cars. ! House servants are not yet affected. ' The cotton mill strikers include the employees of a number of Chinese-owned concerns. The Chinese crews of a number of British and Chinese coasting vessels have aiso struck. The General Labour Union has issued a statement declaring its aims, which include the continuation of anti-imperial-istic propaganda, the elimination of militarists, the formation of a People's Government, freedom of speech and Press, a eight-hour day, an increase in wages, recognition of the unions, better treatment of labourers, and similar wages for male and female workers. However, the Chinese newspapers state that the real object of the strike is to welcome the Nationalist armies to Shanghai. So far there hare been no disturbances beyond minor ones and no definite anti-Foreign tendencies have yet beefl shown. Earlier Particulars. The General Labour Union, stated an earlier message, called a general strike to enforce its demands for the evacuation of Shanghai, both by Sun's troops and the British troops. All the employees at the Post Office struck, also the tramwaymen and bus men in the French concession and the cotton workers in all the British mills and some of the Japanese mills. A picket of postal workers, armed with staves, lined up at the entrance to the General Post Office and attempted to prevent the indoor staff from hig or working. Subsequently the Postal Commissioner, who is ah Englishman, decided to close the Post Office until Monday in order to prevent immediate trouble and confusion. Later In the day the police took the staves from the strikers. Four hundred strikers entered the British Cigarette Company's factory in the international settlement where 1000 workers axe employed and attempted to intimidate the latter into striking. As a precautionary measure the management thought it wise to close down the factory for the time being. Three of the largest Chinese stores in the centre of the international settlement, where thousands of assistants are employed, and among whom there had been some trouble of late, have also been closed. A seamen's strike has also commenced in the French concession. Waterside workers' strikes have caused a shortage of suppHes in some districts. I All the British troops are confined to their quarters in case of eventualities, Volunteers have been mobilised but not concentrated. Special police have also been called out.