MAY DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20088, 3 May 1927, Page 9

MAY DAY

ORDERLY DEMONSTRATIONS. OPPOSITION TO TRADES UNION BILL. (British Official Wireless.) (Prety Association—By Telegraph Copyright.) RUGBY, May 1. The May Day demonstrations of protest against the Trades Union Bill were favoured with fine weather and attracted large crowds. Most of the demonstrations took the form of processions, followed by open-air meetings in _ which opposition to the measure was registered. They passed off Without any untoward incident. SOCIALISTS IN BERLIN. DEMAND FOR EIGHT HOURS DAY. BERLIN, May 1. A hundred thousand Socialists, carrying red flags and banners, inscribed “Hands off China,” took part in the May Day procession, chiefly for the purpose of demanding an eight-hours day for all workers. —A. and N.Z. Cable. STUPENDOUS CELEBRATIONS. MARCH PAST LENIN’S TOMB. MOSCOW, May L It is estimated that 500,000 civilians and thousands of troops participated In the demonstrations in the Red Square, which began at dawn with a blare of 50 silver trumpets, aeroplanes with red streamers flying above. There was a spectacular march past Lenin’s tomb, which lasted • for eight hours. The celebrations throughout the country were on a stupendous scale. By means of wireless signals the troops everywhere took the oath simultaneously. PROCESSION TO HYDE PARK. MASSED CHOIRS OF LADIES. LONDON, May 1. (Received May 2, at 7 p.m.) The principal May Day celebration in London was a demonstration in Hyde Park. It is estimated that 30,000 people walked in a procession to the park. The Socialist Council at Stepney ordered the hoisting of the Red Flag on the Municipal Buildings, but patriots hauled it down. The Mayor (Alderman Sullivan) then personally hoisted another. Two loyal aldermen admitted that they inspired the removal of the first flag. Massed choirs of young ladies, robed in white, and wearing red ties, were a feature of the demonstration, ALBERT HALL MEETING. ADVOCATING A GENERAL STRIKE. “BALDWIN MUST GO." LONDON, May 1. (Received May 2, at 7 p.m.) Five thousand young people attended at the Albert Hall In the evening, when a resolution was adopted favouring a national general strike to prevent- the passing of the Trades Union Bill. Mr A. J. Cook, who was the principal speaker, induced the audience to rise and repeat after him the words “Down with the Blues. Baldwin must go.” •Mr J. H. Thomas, in a speech at Derby, said he never encouraged class warfare, but the Bill was a mean-spirited attempt to injure a section of the workers. The next Labour Government’s first act would be to repeal the measure. An armed band at Dundalk held up the railwaymen, seized and covered with petrol and burned English newspapers.— Argus and Sun Cable.