TROPE'S LABOUR DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17460, 3 May 1920, Page 5

TROPE'S LABOUR DAY.

- STRIKES ? on CONTINENT. TRANQUILITY ; IN BRITAIN. RUSSIA REMAINS AT WORK. B? Te!*sraph—Press Association— (Receired 11.30 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON, May 1. « According to the latest reports May Day Labour celebrations passed without serious incident. The demonstrations in England were particularly good-humoured. An unofficial holiday was observed generally in some industrial areas and halfheartedly in . others. Everywhere vital services, »ith the exception of the London dockyards, were not affected. The chief feature of London's celebration consisted * of a mammoth procession, admiraDiy 4;marshalled by the police, which was fol--5 lowed by open-air meetings in Hyde >i*j,rk. There were 72 platforms, from ■ 'which numerous resolutions extending fraternal greetings to colleagues throughout the world, and demanding housing ' reform, an amnesty for political and military prisoners, the endowment of motherhood, etc., were carried. Ko prominent labour leaders participated. The fact that May Dav fell on Saturday, necessitating the loss of only half a day's ray, undoubtedly contributed to the widespread nwurv of the stoppage. But at i resent it is impossible to say whether the earlier forecasts of the eitei.t of the stoppage are fully justified. It is noteworthy that many colliers and other workers in Lancashire and Yorl shire protested »gainst idleness. The meetings in most of the mining areas demanded nationalisation of the mines. . At Paris, contrary to expectations, the morning and afternoon, with a single ex ception, passed quietly. The strike on the ' State railway is practically complete, but other railways are running normal services. Reports from ihe provinces state that all is calm. Restricted services on the Paris tnderground railways were maintained by .Indents and police, reinforced and armed, j and military in strength were within call., bH were not needed. Helmetcd soldiers j tr.f veiled on the underground railways.: Strikers in the Place de la Kcpublique attempted to interfere with the motor omnibuses, and disorder ensued. Some shots were lired. but there were no casualties. It is reported that twenty persons were arrested. . In Berlin, despite the National Assembly's opposition, May Day celebrations vim held in the factories, and shops and offices were closed. All traffic with tho exception of the railways, was paralysed. Numerous socialist meetings were heW In Rome no .newspapers were published. It is not known yet whether the railway strike is general. ' . _ it Prague the Government forest alle-t the strikers' and proclaimed a general holidar in Qsecbo-Siovakia. Reports from Copenhagen state that grove events are feared in Finland. A gffisrtl strike threatens, and already then have been several conflicts between the workers and police. Proclamations have been issued urging the proletariat to fight arainst the reactionaries. "A wireless message from Moscow states that Russia is celebrating May Day as a holy day of voluntary work. Work at the factories began earlier than usual.