“STARVED US!”

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 45, 22 January 1926, Page 9

“STARVED US!”

SEAMEN’S WIVES FURIOUS.

CURSES FOR LEADERS OF STRIKE.

LONDON, Jan. 7. A demonstration which, if Tom Walsh and Jacob Johnson’s followers had seen it would have been a wholesome lesson calculated to prevent further strikes, showed in London to-day a real glimpse of the torriblo suffering which the striking seamen’s dependants are undergoing. The Canningtown Town Hall was packed with 1000 women, who were standing on chairs, gesticulating and yelling wild curses on AValsh and Johnson. Frequently pandemonium broke out, mere mention of tho strike leaders arousing fierco outbursts. Several persons at tho back of tho hall joined in singing “The Red Flag,” whereupon the women threatened to hurl them out. Some of the women, brandishing their fists and throwing off the men’s cloth caps which they had been wearing, dashed at tho disloyalists, actually clutching them. A pitiful spectacle was presented as tearful mothers, with their hair down their backs, and many with babies in arms, left them crying while they tliomselves were jumping up and shouting, “Tho strike leaders starved us and the kids, and* gaoled the old man. Now they are coming hero in luxury. We’ll rip them to pieces.” The gathering resolved to . form a vigilanco association to protect tha interests of the strikers’ dependants, and to demand tho publication of all union balance-sheets.

Captain Davis, representing Mr Havelock Wilson, said “The Australian union made a levy of 5s a man for the dependants. Where has it gone? Have you had any?” He was answered by yells of “No!” Wo demand to know where the money