POST OFFICE STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1927, Page 9

POST OFFICE STRIKE.

Foreigners Intend to Take Control. THE HUMOROUS SIDE. (Received 11.30 a.m.) PEKING February 22. Foreigners' irritation at the non-de-livery or acceptance of mails for three days culminated in the settlement authorities informing the Chinese postal authorities that unless the postal strike ceased at ten o'clock this morning, they would take over the post office and run it as foreign until the strikers' return. Volunteers have been mobilised in order to stand by, if necessary, to assist the police to clear the post office of strikers. A humorous sidelight of the Chinese indestructible faith in any foreign originated institution was their continuance to post letters until pillar boxes were crammed and letters began to fall from the slots. Thieves immediately commenced stealing until the police prevented them. An official estimate states that the strike has spread to 100,000 workers, but the majority are in the native city. NOTICE TO EXECUTE. PARTIAL RETURN TO WORK. (Received 1.30 p.m.) SHANGHAI, February 22. The number of strikers is decreasing somewhat, and the situation in the foreign settlements remains quiet. A proclamation posted at the General Tost Office that employees not returning to work would be executed put an end to all picketing and also brought many ba-k to work. enabling the resumption on a smail scale of service It is estimated that there are still some 100.000 on strike, but with the partial resumption of the postal service and all international settlement buses and nearly all the trams running, the situation is a little brighter, despite the fact that local shipping is virtually tied Up -. . While executions (which are continuing, though on a much smaller scale) have been effective in bringing back th« rank and file to work, they have greath increased the activities of agitators, whe are directing affairs from safety. it is noteworthy that there i: still no sign of an anti-foreign strike anti-British agitation has increased. It is reported that at Icliang Chinest pilots were intimidated and America! ships threatened for carrying Britisl passengers, while at Changsha th< 'abour unions threatened to condemi "o death all Chinese remaining in Britisl inplov or supplying necessities t< -ritons.