A WAVE OF UNREST

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 8, 9 January 1920, Page 7

A WAVE OF UNREST

GRAVE INDUSTRIAL CRISIS

HIGH PRICES AND BOLSHEVISM.

(BNIIHB. PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.)

(AtSTRALtAM - NEW ZEALAND CASLB ASSOCIATION.) ALL.' HABAD, 7th January.

A ware oi unrest has been prevalent throughout India fir- some months. There have been strikes involving the railways, post offices, and factories. A strike of mill hands now on. in Bombay involves two hundred thousand hands, and has spread to Calcutta, where thirty-five thousand came out on the first day, making a similar demand to that made in Bombay, for a 50 per cent, increase in wages, increased grain allowance, and a ten-hour day. The strikes came as a, surprise, as no demaaids had previously been promulgated. Military have been sent to Bombay in view of possible disturbances. Rioting occurred.at one mill. The newspapers have been compelled to cut 'Sown their issues owing to trouble with their employees.

The chief cause of the industrial unrest is the high prices. The cost of living has increased 100 per cent. The Government, however, is aware that Bolshevik agents have reached India, via Afghanistan, in order to foment unrest. It is stated that they have unlimited funds at their disposal. As a precautionary measure, the Government has issued an order declaring rouble notes to be illegal tender. Amyone possessing such notes is liable to imprisonment.