RAILWAY STRIKE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17277, 29 September 1919, Page 7

RAILWAY STRIKE

BRITAIN'S PLIGHT.

WAR TIME RESTRICTIONS.

DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD.

MOTOR TRANSPORT SERVICE EARL HAIG CONSULTED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 8 p.m.) LONDON. Sept. 26. The conference between the Government and representatives of the railwaymen failed to reach an agreement. A strike was therefore called, which became effective at midnight on Friday.

The strike negotiations were originally conducted ,by Sir Auckland Geddes, President of the Board of Trade, but when the Transport -Ministry was invited, Sir Eric Geddes, Minister for Transport too.c up the negotiations, and sugppsved a meeting of the parties, Directly the seriousness of the situation was realised Mr. Lloyd George was called in.

The official view is that there is no further loophole for negotiations. The railwaymen have slammed the doer in the Cabinet's face.

A full meeting of the Cabinet was held late in the afternoon after the negotiations had failed, and considered the situation in consultation with the Railway Executive and managers. Field-Marshal Earl Haig and General G. T. P. Feilding, com"manding die London district, attended the meeting of the Cabinet.

A crowd besieged Downing Street throughout the day. necessitating mounted police to clear the street. Mr. Lloyd George was cheered when leaving the conference.

The Government has issued an urgent appeal for volunteer motor drivers to carry food. The principal war time food restrictions have been reimposed.

War time restrictions on the use of petrol have been restored. The Government is calling for demobilised volunteers to help to maintain order.

The Government regards the strike as directed against the life of the community. A great deal of organisation to meet the situation already exists. The Government has also a specially-prepared organisation for rationing food if necessary. The distribution of food will be carried out by compulsory acquisition of motor vehicles for this purpose.

Railway officials despair of even a skeleton railway service, and state that cle-ks and others are now strongly organised, and there is little hope that they will perform the duties of the strikers. Post office officials have requested and have obtained official assurance that they will not be asked to do railwaymen's work. Special constables are warned to he ready, and the Government has taken powers to commandeer ail vehicles and horses.