BRITAIN’S CRISIS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17045, 28 May 1926, Page 7

BRITAIN’S CRISIS.

LESSON OF THE STRIKE. SIR F.SME HOWARD’S DECLARATION. (Elec. Tel. Copy light—United Press Assn.) aim N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK, May 26. Addressing the National Association of Orcditmen, the British Ambassador, Sir Esme Howard, declared that the general strike in England served to establish "once again and for all generations our belief and faith in the principles of a free constitutional Parliamentary Government." TO RELIEVE DISTRESS. The East Town (Wanganui) branch of (lie A.S.R.S., at a meeting yesterday afternoon, requested its' executive to cable a substantial sum to alleviate distress among the dependants of the British miners, the branch considering it its hounden duty to do'so. COLD CASH, THE RAILWAY-MEN’S SURRENDER. LONDON, May 16. The special representative of The Sun lias been informed that “cold feet or cold cash” was responsible for the railway, men’s surrender. It might he considered a. triumphant domination .-by the Labor moderates if the signatories had not included one of (he “reddest” trade union executives. CHERISHED ASSETS. Any additional prolongation of the strike would lidVe compelled tlie unions to realise on their cherished assets,' which are almost wholly locked up in securities. The executive even went so far as to sound the market, and learned that it. would have been compelled to accept bargain prices in consequence of the stagnant conditions. The prospects, therefore, were most gloomy, and the leaders preferred an ignominious end, thus, at least, conserving tlie funds? they had laboriously built up. * It was obvious that the owners occupied a dominating position at the conference, informing the railway men that, unless they agreed to terms involving almost abject surrender, they would risk ail in the prosecution of the unions for striking. . Although the agreement reached specifically does not prejudice the owners’ rights to sue for damages, it is tacitly understood that the matter will not he pursued in the present instance, hut the inclusion of a clause definitely’ - establishes the unions’ admission of tire illegality of such strikes, thus practically eliminating anv chance of a recurrence. If a general strike did recur it would certainly be fought to the last ditch, the men realising that they wouldTose everything.