EFFECT OF THE STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19320, 6 May 1926, Page 9

EFFECT OF THE STRIKE.

FOREIGN SUPPLIES STOP.

The general strike is still in progress in Britain. Despatches sent from London ves.te.rday morning described the great 1 metropolis as I ''asleep.''' There was no street traffic, no trams, no morning newspapers, no cablegrams, no messages from tape machines, nothing but absolute silence. Britain was completely cut off from the world. Owing to the strike the British Post Office has suspended foreign and colonial mails.

The strike has affected German ports, where the sailings of vessels for Tingland are being cancelled owing to the impossibility of coaling them, the transport workers, dock labourers and seamen at Essen "have been ordered not to woxk sLgps trying to load coal for England.

Dutch exporters of foodstuffs to Britain Lave suspended shipments. Trench workers are also likely to endeavour to contribute to the success of the strike.

Several oi the British railway companies on Tuesday announced the early resumption of partial services. Numerous trains ■were operating in Scotland. The London Underground Railway and Omnibus combine has met. -with a large response to a broadcasted appeal for volunteer labour, and hundreds of recruits are being trained for •fire services. Other transport concerns are hopeful of resuming partial services.

The strike has been carried Into effect in all the industries affiliated to the Trades Union Congress. In some directions, however, the -workers have expressed disapproval of the action. The British Government yesterday morning published the first issue of a penny newspaper, called the British Gazette. The edition comprised 700,000 copies. The Times also succeeded in publishing a Km all sheet. The Daily Express produced a single sheet, which was distributed gratis in London. The proprietors of several of the London dailies are considering printing their papers in Paris and sending thern to London by aeroplane. The Government's scheme for providing the community "with necessary commodities is in operation in London, and Hyde Park contains an army of busy workers who are assembling vast masses of material. The Southampton Board of Guardians has decided that no relief •will be granted to the families of strikers who refuse to work. The Leicester co-operative and wholesale houses have refused to give credit to strikers. Torpedo destroyers are stationed at all the principal docks on the Thames. Naval ratings -will, it is thought, be available to discharge vessels if desired. The first act of violence in connection with the strike occurred at the East India Docks on Tuesday. A mob of strikers, among whom were some women, set fire to a number of . Government lorries and destroyed the foodstuffs loaded upon them. The police charged the demonstrators, 20 of whom were injured. The Communist member of the House of Commons, Mr. S. Saklatvala, has been arrested on a charge of making a seditious speech.