THE TRANSPORT STRIKE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 201, 11 August 1911, Page 1

THE TRANSPORT STRIKE.

OVER 100,000 MEH IDLED. RIOTS IN TOOLEY STREET. MEAT TRADE DEMORALISED.

London, Aug. 10

It is estimated that 20,000 dockers, 36,000 carmen, 7000 lightermen and engineers, 6000 coal porters, 8000 stevedores, 8000 labourers, 1200 porters at the Billingsgate fish market, and additional unregistered workers, making over 100,000, are on strike.

A hundred and fifty vessels laden with meat, wheat, butter and fruit are lying idle in the Thames undischargeable. One Smithfield salesman states that he has 122,000 carcases of New Zealand mutton and lambs in the docks awaiting delivery. Another states that he has cabled to New Zealand to withhold shipments.

The Great Western, Great Northern, and Midland Railways’ carmen are supporting the strike.

The South-Eastern Railway is unable to delived 24,000 cases of Tasmanian apples, which are rapidly deteriorating. All the thoroughfares leading to the docks are picketed. Carmen picketing Goswell road unharnessed and cut the harness of Pickford’s carts and Paterson’s vans. For half an hour hand-to-hand fighting occurred bet ween the dockers and the police in Tooley street. The strikers hid in the side streets, and when the carts appeared to collect butter whistled and summoned the strikers, who surrounded the carts. The carmen were given the option of withdrawing their carts or having them overturned.

The police were powerless. Similar scenes occurred in Lead enhall street and Aidgate. The driver of a van in the Minor ies fired a revolver, slightly wounding a boy, owing to strikers endeavouring to prevent his progress. The driver was arrested. Serious disturbances have taken place at the East India Docks. The police drew their batons and charged the mob. Mounted police four abreast broke up the mob. Many were bruised and were treated at Poplar Hospital. Similar baton charges took place at Deptford Broadway. Eight arrests were effected at Smithfield owing to attacks upon salesmen under the protection of the police, who were attempting to handle meat themselves.

The employers are willing to recognise the Stevedores L nion and concede their demands. Mr. Askwith’s conference with the lightermen and coalmen has been adjourned. It is understood that the carters will join the conference to-day.

PREPARING FOR THE WORST. ALDERSHOT TROOPS MOVE TO LONDON. BALL CARTRIDGES SERVED OCT. (Received 11. 9.15 a.m.) Though the London dockers, carmen, and lightermen’s strike is no worse, all the Aidershot command is moving to London forthwith---

the cavalry dragoons by road and the infantry by rail. They have been provided with ball cartridges, and al! available motors and steam traction are conveying food anti fodder. SITUATION AT LIVERPOOL. ENDEAVOURS TO PRESERVE PEACE. (Received 11. 8.5 a.m.) -The situation at Liverpool is threatening. Pickets prevent goods from leaving the docks and railway depots. The goods service of the district is held up. and the passenger service dislocated.

[PRESS ASSOCIA3 lON.—COPYRIGHT].

Numerous disorders and outrages are reported, including the overturning of a brewer's dray, knocking in the bungs, and distributing; beer to the mob. ; The Lord Mayor and the Chief; Constable of Liverpool have, con-; ferred with the prominent leaders; of the strikers with a view that, if possible, action may be taken for' preserving peace and obviating the' necessity for utilising outside' forces. !

DISCONTENT STEADILY i GROWING. I

Mr. T. Thomas, M.P., secretary; of the Society of Railwaymen, de--dared that the discontent was; steadily growing. In all grades! grievances were numerous, particu-l larly complete dissatisfaction with the work of the Conciliation Boards, which throughout favoured the employers. It was also exceed ingly difficult, to get decisions put into operation, combinations andi the pooling arrangements of thej great railway companies affecting the workers adversely. The situation has arisen spontaneously, and the union has not organised the! strike. Non-unionists are receiving ; strike pay, and half the strikers! are non-unionists. Mr. Thomas; added that London may be com-i pletely isolated, and fod supplies cut off. | ’BLS TRAFFIC UPSET. j The London Omnibus Company | has withdrawn one-third of the] omnibuses owing to shortage ofi petrol, only three days’ supply re-; maining i

The steamer Turakina landed her passengers at Plymouth.

(Received 11, 10.15 a.m.) London, Aug. 10. Some London streets are as quiet as on Sundays. Commercial vehicular traffic has ceased.

Extra police have been drafted to the strike areas.

Crowds at Paddington prevented vans from leaving. There have been many isolated cases of personal injuries and arrests made.

The fish-porters at Billingsgate refused to work unless 2/- per hour were paid. The masters have conceded the demand. Mr. Askwith has arranged settlement with the coal porters, and. an agreement is being signed giving increased wages, and other concesSiU’.lS.

The conditions at Liverpool are: rapidly becoming worse. Detachments of the Warwickshire regiment and 200 Irish constabulary have arrived. ; There were riotous scenes at the Central Station. TROOPS IN READINESS. ’ (Received 11. 10.15 a.m.) London, Aug. I<>. 1 Later accounts state that the Woolwich and Aidershot commands have been ordered to be in readiness. Heavy drafts are already: moving from Aldershot t>» London. QUEENSLAND SUGAR STRIKE TENSION RELIEVED. Sy.dmw. Am.-. G. The tension in the -v" ! .r ‘:’ke position is somewhat relaxed on the strength <J rd-, h-es from Bris-; bane that the State Treasurer and’ the sugar mill owners have- agreed; to attend the conference asked for yesterday. The conference takes: place at 4 o'clock to-morrow.

A wire has been received from! the secretary of the Waterside i Workers’ Union, who is attending J the Brisbane conference, ami out ic- ’ iug that a conference has been ar-

ranged. He asks the Sydney waterside workers not to stop working the general cargo of vessels, as it will have an important bearing on to-morrow’s conference.

Despite the reassuring tone of Brisbane advices there is no cessation in the preparation for eventualities amongst the labour unions, It transpires that a secret conference to-day decided that all unionists should act simultaneously and not in sections in the event of tomorrow’s conference proving futile and trouble arising.

Sugar to-day advanced £1 all round.

The view expressed in labour circles here is that tne Queensland strikers are not likely to accept the wages board or its award mentioned this morning, as the board was promulgated by a free labourers’ union.

FALL IN SHARES

(Received 11, 9.0 a.m.) Sydney, Aug. 11.

On the Stock Exchange yesterday Sugar Company’s' shares declined 22/6.