TRANSPORT STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1474, 24 June 1912, Page 5

TRANSPORT STRIKE

UNION FUNDS EXHAUSTED.

INTIMIDATION OF STRIKEBREAKERS.

PREMIER AND THE LABOUR LAWS.

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright

London, June 21. Tho unions involved in tho transport strike have exhausted their funds. The dockers, carmen, lightermen, and stevedores, however, continue to draw 2s. Cd. to ss. weekly from the General Federation of Unions.

i'resh complaints are being made in tho newspapers and in the Houso of Commons in connection with the violence and intimidation towards tho strike-breakers. Several of the men have been taken to the hospital.

Tho Home Secretary, Mr. M'Keuna, has promised to inquire into the matter.

REFUSAL TO GIVE EVIDENCE. PORT AUTHORITY AND COUNCIL. (Rec. June 23, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 22. Tho Port of London Authority has declined to pive evidence before the Industrial Council, on the ground that tho Council already possesses knowledge of tile details of the Devonport agreement. The Authority evidently objects to Government pressure. A largo meeting at the Guildhall has endorsed the Port of London Authority's proposal to abolish the lightermen's legal monopoly. A month's notico is required for the abolition. LABOUR. LAWS, DEPUTATIONS TO MR, ASQUITH. (Rec. June 23, 5.5 p.m.) London, Jnne 22. A deputation to the Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, has urged the alteration of the Trades Disputes Act in the direction of the abolition of the regulation of peaceful picketing, and also urged the importance of financial guarantees for the carrying out of agreements. The deputation advocated the repression of strikes in large federated trades like the transport workers by the imprisonment of the leaders. It was suggested that Sir George Askwith's numerous interventions and settlements by compromise had led the Labour leaders to believe they could get something out of every strike. Lord Furness, the shipbuilder, advocated compulsory arbitration. Mr. Asquith, in replying to a deputafavonrable to compulsory arbitration, as neither side had desired it. The opinion of responsible Labour lenders was against intimidation. He promised to consider tho question of tho holding of secret ballots before strikes; London, June 21.'' Mr. Asquith, in replying to a deputation from tho Chambers of Commerce Conference, regarding labour unrest, said that tho Government ought not to assurno the functions of a. conciliator except as a last resort, and when tho nation's interests wero involved. Ho promised to inquire whether the Canadian Act, imposing, an, impartial investigation before a lock-out or'strike,. was adaptable to Great Britain.