DOCK STRIKE ENDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19102, 22 February 1924, Page 7

DOCK STRIKE ENDS

A DRAMATIC COLLAPSE OFFER TO MEN ACCEPTED. A SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE. THE TERMS NOT DISCLOSED. The dock strike has been settled. It collapsed dramatically while Londoners were in bed. hw Awooiatioa —By Telegraph—Copyrig i* LONDON, February 21. (Received Feb. 21, at 8.6 p.m.) The Cabinet met at 9 o’clock last night to consider mobilising the food resources. The Prime Minister had a conference with the dockers’ leaders in a private room of the House of Commons. In the meantime the employers assembled in the Hotel Victoria. Every shipping centre was represented. The meeting lasted from 9 o’clock till 11 o’clock. It is understood that it was decided to offer Is immediately, and the other shilling very shortly. An official of the Ministry of Labour thereafter accompanied the employers’ representatives to the Ministry where the dockers officials were waiting. The parley was continued till 2 o’clock this morning, when an agreement was announced. The official communique does not mention the terms. —Reuter. DECISION CAUSES SURPRISE VIRTUAL VICTORY FOR MEN. COMPLETENESS OF THE STRIKELONDON, February 21. (Received Feb. 21, at 10.20 p.m.) The surprise of the country awaking to the fact that the strike was settled while the population was sleeping will be greater because the main editions of many of the newspapers were printed before the news arrived. The strike was the most complete of the kind in Britain’s history, all the ports being blocked with idle ships. Moreover, there were signs that it would soon oe vastly extended to other workers with, most serious consequences. The Daily Express says that the employers’ decision is really an offer of 2s. The difficulty was so to wrap up the concession of the second shilling that it would not appear to be a “climb down.” It is understood that the Government had arranged with the strike leaders for the movement of food supplies from the docks, the Government guaranteeing that the men employed in this work would receive the full 12s a day for which they had struck.—A. and N.Z. Cable. RESUMPTION OF WORK. FOLLOWS CONFIRMATION Ol' TERMS. LONDON, February 21. (Received Feb. 21, at 9.55 p.m.) The Secretary of the Ministry of Labour states that a' further conference which was held at the Ministry under Mr Shaw’s chairmanship resulted in the representatives of the parties reaching an agreement, the terms of which have been accepted by the employers’ representative*, and will' be recommended the men s representatives to a conference of delegates which is being summoned to meet the Ministry of Labour in the evening. Subject to confirmation of the terms, work will be resumed at all ports as soon as arrangements can be made. —Reuter.

DEMAND FOR 2s CONCEDED COUNTRY EMPLOYERS RESPONSIBLE. LONDON, February 20. (Received Feb. 21, at 5.5 p.m.) The Central News Agency reports that a meeting of dock employers in the West Country induced the London employers to concede the 2s demanded with the reservation that the whole question of maintenance should be decided on a national basis.—A. and N.Z. Cable. BEFORE THE SETTLEMENT THE COURT OF INQUIRY. BOTH SIDES OF THE CASE. LONDON, February 20. The Court of Inquiry into the dock dispute opened opened its sittings in the Law Courts. The proceedings are open to the public. The court is presided over by Mr Holman Gregory, K.C., accompanied by Mr H. Boothroan (secretary of the Association of Operative Cotton spinners) and Sir Andrew Duncan (secretary of the Shipbuilding Employers Federation). Neither of the disputants has briefed counsel.

Mr Ernest Bevin, opening for the witnesses, but desired the court to call iwtnesses, but desired the court to call witnesses from the other side.

Sir , Norman Hill, vice-president of the Chamber of Shipping, was present at the Inquiry Court, representing the employers. The inquiry dramatically adjourned lor the employers to hold a secret meeting to discuss making a new offer. (Received Eeb. 21, at 7.20 p.m.)

At the dock inquiry Mr Bevin pointed ou. that the dockers had accepted reductions totalling 6s a day since 1921, because they had been fighting to establish national agreements which the employers threatened to terminate unless the reductions were accepted. The dockers had also been fighting to abolish casual labour, which was a social disgrace. Their present claim was for a reversion to the wages paid in 1922. What had precipitated the present dispute was the attitude of the employers at a meeting fixed by themselves, when Viscount Devonport on behalf of the employers had curtly dismissed the men’s delegates without giving a reason. Mr Bevin asserted that many oi the employers d ; d not give permission to reject the claim, —indeed, hundreds of the companies wanted to pay the increase. He concluded by stating that if the court's decision gave a reasonable hope of settlement a conference of delegates would be immediately summoned. Sir Norman ffill on behalf of the shipowners, contended that a reduction of wages was necessary in consequence of bad trade. He denied that the employers had threatened to break up the national agreements, and emphasised the need of restoring international credit, increasing exports, and hard work to repair war wastage. He said that while freights had fallen the working expenses were undiminished, and many shipowners had abandoned the hope of ever making profits. Many of the dockers were making far more 'than the men producing the articles which they handled. Replying to a request by the chairman to submit the statistics of dividend disbursements, Sir Norman Hill suggested the appointment of a chartered accountant. The chairman renh’ed that that would never do. The strike would have to be settled without delav. The court hoped to report to the Minister of Labour on Saturday. The pitting was then adjourned.—Reuter A, and N.Z. Cables.

STRIKE SPREADS TO IRELAND. LONDON, February 20. (Received Feb. 21, at 7.20 p.m.) The dockers strike has spread, to Ireland. Following upon instructions from London the dockers at Belfast declined to discharge ships from Britain. The dockers at Londonderry have struck. —Reuter. EARLIER ITEMS. LONDON, Febuary 20. In the House of Commons Mr MacDonald stated that negotiations were in progress to secure the safety of essential foodstuffs. He hoped they would be completed to-day. The stevedores, a rival union to the dockers, unanimously adopted -a resolution in favour of striking.—A. and N.Z. and Sydney Sun Cables.