FOUND LITTLE RESPONSE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 12660, 21 January 1927, Page 7

FOUND LITTLE RESPONSE

TRADE UNION LOYALTY GENERAL STRIKE ECHOES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, January 19. The first section of the Trade Union Congress Council’s report is the main report prepared for a conference of the executives of affiliated unions, which the .oouncil convoked for June 25th, 1926, in consequence of communications received from a number of unions. This conference was postponed as a result of representations that it and the publication of . the report would prejudice the Miners’ Federation in. the oonduct of the mining dispute. The report, which is dated June 16th, 1925, concludes by declaring that the general strike was terminated for one sufficient reason only, namely, that, in view of the attitude of the Miners’ Federation, its continuance would have rendered its purpose futile. The council expresses regret that sa great a demonstration of loyalty to the trade union movement found so little practical appreciation, and response on the part of those for whom the sacrifice was made. NO EXCUSES The report concludes: “The council has no excuses to offer, and no apologia to make for the conduct of the strike or its termination. It unhesitatingly asks that the conference endorse the report and approve its action.” The seoond section of the report is a supplement describing the post-strike work and policy of the council in relation to the mining dispute. It concludes by describing both documents as a record of the most momentous and spontaneous effort of self-sacrifice in tho history of the trade union movement on behalf of a section of its members. “The question of whether the ultimate advantages to the movement were commensurate with the sacrifices involved cannot yet be fully measured, but the council believed that the loyalty and enthusiasm and unselfish devotion shown will, in the light of the experience gained, enable the movement to unite- and strengthen its forces.”