STRIKE IN BRITAIN

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 6 May 1926, Page 5

STRIKE IN BRITAIN

RESTORING THE SERVICES

TRAIN AND BUS ARRANGEMENTS

LONDON’S ISOLATION

UY CABLE-PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYEIGHT LONDON, May 5. The Government is publishing a penny newspaper called The British Gazette. Its first issue consists of four sheets. ■ The first issue of 700,000 explains that its object is a reply to the strike-makers' plan to paralyse public opinion. It adds that nearly all newspapers have been silenced by violent concerted action, and this great nation is momentarily reduced to the level of' African natives, dependent only on rumours carried from place to place. In a few days, if this were allowed to continue, rumours would poison the air and raise panics and disorders, which would carry us to depths which no sane man nor any party or class care even to contemplate. It says the Gazette 's circulation will be raised by means of the unlimited resources of the State until it provides a sure and sufficient means of information and guide for action for all British civilians. It urges the nation to ‘ r be strong and quit yourselves like men." It claims that the first day of the strike was not so complete as the promoters had hoped' for. More trains were running than on( the first day of the 1919 railway strike. It says that reports from all parts of the country indicate that recruiting arrangements are satisfactory. The office whore it is published and the vans carrying the paper were strongly guarded. The Gazette was delivered to the more distant districts by aeroplane, - The Times published a sheet 13 by 8 } inches printed on both sides, and selling at the usual price. The Daily Express hand-set a single sheet and distributed it gratis throughout London. The National Union of Journalists has ordered its members to remain at work unless non-union labour is introduced. Newspaper linotype operators so far have not struck. They meet to-day to consider the question of breaking away from the main newspaper union. It is reported that several London dailies are considering printing in Paris and bringing the papers to London by aeroplane. HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATES THE STRIKE. Discussing the strike situation in the , House of Lords, Lord Haldane blamed A-'--; .the Government for not continuing the negotiations even in face of the general strike threat. The situation was ominous, but he did not despair of the parties being brought together again. Earl Balfour said that if Parliament handed over its responsibility to the trade unions in the guise of settling a trade dispute in a particular fashion, the most tragic revolution in history would be accomplished. The trades unions did not seem to understand they were upsetting the slow labour of centuries by which the people had built up their liberties. Lord Banbury introduced a Bill to repeal the Trades Dispute Act of 1906, which was read a first time. Lord Banbury urged that the 1906 Act put the trades unions above the law. STRIKE COMMITTEE’S REPORT. GRATIFIED AT RESPONSE. LONDON, May 4. The strike committee of the Trade Union Congress reports from all parts of the country from John o' Groats to Lands End have surpassed all expectations. Not only the railway men and other transport workers, but other trades came out in a manner they did not quite expect immediately. The difficulty had been to keep the men at work who were not called out, thus forming a second line defence to that extent. The committee add: “'We naturally are most gratified."

ALLEGED SEDITION. / COMMUNIST MEMBER OF PARLIAV MENT ARRESTED. \. LONDON, May 4. Mr S. Saklatvala, the Communist member for Battersea, was quietly arrested at his home in Highgate under the Emergency Powers Act and charged with making a seditious speech in Hyde Park on Sunday, in which he is alleged to have said “the young men in the forces are of our class, and- whether Joynson-Hicks likes it or not or calls it sedition w f e have a duty to tell these young men they must lay down their arms and revolt, and protect the people instead of the rogues and fools whom the Union Jack has been harbouring for years. ’ ’ Defendant was remanded until Thursday and undertook to refrain from further speeches. TROUBLE SPREADING. SEAMEN'S UNION TAKING A BALLOT. LONDON, May 5. The staff committee of the Whitley Council resolved to advise all civil servants not to volunteer to perform duties outside their normal work. It recommended obedience to the orders of competent authorities, but to report to the committee any attempt to induce them to perform any unusual duties. Mr Havelock Wilson announces that the Seamen’s Union is balloting whether to join. They are part of the Trade Union Congress, but the union’s

constitution forbids any strike without a ballot of members. The decision ' from the ballot is not likely to be reached before the week-end.

SUPPLY OF VOLUNTEERS SATISFACTORY

BOOKS GUAHD®D. REFRIG FRIATED MACH I N FRY TO BE KEPT RUNNING. LONDON. May 5. Thipedo destroyers are stationed at all the principal docks in the Thames. It is understood that naval ratings will be available to discharge vessels if desired. All the produce trades are absolutely at ia standstill owing to lack of transport. Eight apple steamers are arriving before May 8. The shipowners have arranged to keep the refrigerating machinery running. The strikers will permit sufficient firemen and greasers to remain at work for that purpose. The Mauretania, at Southampton, wtas unable ,to secure dockers, .so the office m,en of the Onna.rd: Line took off their coats, moored the ship, carried the baggage of 250 ashore, and discharged 3500 bags of mails. The passengers left for London in motor coaches and private cars.

EAST END DISTURBANCES. CAUSED BY ROUGHS. LONDON. May 5. Police olficers in the East End jure convinced that the disturbances are not due to bona fide trade unionists, who are most orderly, but to the operations of ssmall gangs of roughs. The police task is most difficult, owing to the wasp-like tactics of the roughs, but large drafts of foot and mounted men have been sent to the district and have broken up the gangs, and are now shepherding lorries past the danger points. CONTINENTAL SERVICES DISCONTINUED. AMSTERDAM, May 4. The Batavoir Line has suspended its London service, and other iines (ire contemplating similar action. Exporters of vegetables, meats and dairy produce have already suspended shipments to England. The Hook of Holland’s services to Harwich will be suspended after tonight. BRITAIN UNDER STRIKE CONDITIONS. i LONDON, May 5. On Wednesday morning London was asleep. There was no street traffic, no trains, no morning newspapers, no proofs, no cables, no messages from tape machines, but absolute silence. Britain was completely cut off from the world. The Post Office has suspended the foreign and colonial mails Eight London theatres have been closed. The warships Barnham and Ramillies are landing food supplies at Liverpool. The Australian cricketers, who returned to London in fast cars, were surprised to learn of the dramatic events that had taken place in the city. The only news available in Leicester was contained in a typed sheet stating that the Leicester trams had stopped, and giving other local news. The other country districts were similarly ignorant of the happenings in London. In fact, the remotest parts of the world are better informed than the London suburbs. A joint conference of the stewards of the Jockey Club and National Hunt Committee decided that owing to the difficulty of carrying out race meetings under existing conditions, all meetings would be abandoned until further notice. This does not apply to the Chester meeting now in progress. Ten thousand chemical workers at Brunner and Mond’s. Cheshire, refused to obey the strike order.

The Stepney Council, which is controlled by Labourites, ordered all its employees to strike, permitting electricity only at night-time. This resulted in a London iiospital not being supplied in the daytime for operations and X-ray examinations, for which the Government is providing supplies. STRIKERS IN ACTION. TRAFFIC CONTROLLED AT TUNNEL. ONLY ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES PERMITTED. LONDON, May 4.. There were strange scenes at Blackwall tunnel. The dock workers captured the entrance and stopped every car and lorry goingr to and from the tunnel and examined the contents of every lorry. Only those containing food and essential supplies were allowed to pass. Passengers were compelled to dismount, and if there was any opposition the drivers were ordered to turn back. Any cars attempting to force a. passage were overturned. Numbers of cars suffered in this way, and the inmates were roughly handled. A force of police, including some mounted men, were on duty, but beyond seeing there was no undue violence they adopted a passive attitude. NO RELIEF FOR STRIKERS’ FAMILIES. LONDON, May 4. The Southampton Guardians announce that no relief will be granted for the families of strikers refusing work. The Leicester co-operative wholesale houses have refused to give credit to strikers. This decision is regarded as & setback to the strikers.