WALK-OUT AT SMITHFIELD

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25082, 14 January 1947, Page 7

WALK-OUT AT SMITHFIELD

2300 Employees Cease Work SERVICE TRUCKS ARRIVE (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 1.30 a.rn.) LONDON, Jan. 13. Several hundred troops and more than 30 Army lorries escorted by rootor-cycle outriders invaded Smithfield Market this morning to begin the distribution of foodstuffs held up by the carriers’ strike. Soon afterwards the eeiitral strike committee decided to recommend the Smithfield men to remove all meat in dagger of being spoiled, provided all troops were withdrawn from London. The committee. added that all work done by strikers would be voluntary. As soon as the first troops walked into the meat depots to start loading, the porters and shopmen put on their coats and walked out. Their union Officials said that 1600 porters and shopmen and 70Q provision workers had stopped work. “In the early hours of this morning food lorries manned by servicemen were parked all round London waiting to begin moving food,” says the “Daily Express.” “The troops in London will be directed from an operations room in Curzon street. All outgoing messages will be marked secret. “As the food is moved, mobile radios controlled police patrols will be sta-? tinned at all strike areas to atop any interference with the military lorries. “The servicemen stationed at Clapham Common comprise 1500 from the Guards’ Training Battalion in Surrey. They are sleeping in a deep air raid shelter. Several other Army units and detachments of marine commandos from North Wales have also arrived in London. “The Navy has sent 200 lorries from southern ports.’’