FIRST DAY OF STRUGGLE.

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

FIRST DAY OF STRUGGLE.

THE GREAT CATASTROPHE. STRANGE SCENES IN LONDON. CONGESTION ON THE STREETS. MOVEMENT OF THE CROWDS. (Received 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z.-Renter.-Sun. LONDON, May 4. Lite people of England awakened this morning to find the country in the grip of a paralysing strike. It is too early yet to feel the effects of the greatest industrial catastrophe in history. London presented the strangest sight known. -Anything with wheels had been pressed into service. The parking regulations were suspended and the whole of the city was converted into a gigantic garage. Many drivers unaccustomed to the traffic were responsible for long blockages. In spite of the attempts made, to bring ■he people to the city thousands were ccnipelled to walk as much as 10 miles. Ita entire length of the Thames'-Embank-menh and the bridge at Blackfriars held a detse mass of motors and pedestrians, movinj a yard at a time. It was the same it.- other parts. kuses Stoned in Scotland. To-day's experience prompted Scotland Yard to broadcast an appeal to business men to allow their employees to go away in relays. Tin authorities also appealed for an early start in the morning and the use of byways instead of the crowded main roads." An extraordinarily quiet day was emphasised by the abtence of the noise of buses. An air of expectancy was abroad. Many groups of strikers lounged in the streets discussing the oiflook, quietly and in an orderly manner. The leaders of the mer. generally are urging the rank and file to ivoid breaches of the peace and anything ev-.,n approaching disorder. In spite of this some buses were stoned when they wei\ running from Glasgow to Hamilton. T»ey were at once withdrawn. Froblem of the Home-goers London is without trams and virtually without trains and buses. Yet the struts are more congested than ever owing *o the utilisation of everything that is motoi. driven, however ancient it may be. Every approach to the city is jammed by endless lines of cars and lorries, packed with business people and shop hands. Most of them were carried gratis. The Strand is at times a seemingly inextricable mass of traffic. By noon two tube railways were running a skeleton service, but so far there are no outer electric transport services. People who were lucky enough to reach their businesses were faced with harder problems going home to-night. Eight London theatres have been closed owing to the strike.