DOCK STRIKE SETTLED

Wairarapa Age, 22 February 1924, Page 5

DOCK STRIKE SETTLED

EMPLOYERS GIVE WAY

THE TWO SHILLINGS GRANTED

LORD DEVONPORT’S RESPONSIBILITY

(Press Association — Copyright ) (Received 7.35 p.m.) London, Feb. 21.—The dock strike has been settled.—(Reuter.) WEST COUNTRY PRESSURE. (Received 5.5 p.m.) London; Feb.. 20. —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 I'eservation that the whole question of maintenance should bo decided on a national basis. —(A. and N.Z.) STRIKE SPREADS TO IRELAND. ON LONDON INSTRUCTIONS. (Received 7.20 p.m.) London, Feb. 20—The dockers strike has spread to Ireland. Following instructions from the London dockers Belfast declined to discharge ships from Britain. The dockers at Londonderry struck.—(Reuter.) WHAT THEY FOUGHT FOR. A RANKLING MEMORY. (Received 7.20 p.m.) At the dock enquiry Mr Bevin, the dockers’ secretary, pointed out that the dockers had accented reductions totalling 6s daily since 1921 because .they were fighting to establish national agreements, which the employers threatened to terminate unless the reductions were accepted. 1 The dockers were also fighting, he said, to abolish casual labour, which was a social disgrace. Their present claim was a reversion to tho wages paid in 1922. What precipitated the present dispute was the attitude of the employers at a meeting fixed by themselves when Lord Devonport, on behalf of the employers, curtly dismissed the men’s delegates without giving the reason. Mr Bevin asserted that many of the employers did not give permission to reject the claim. Indeed, hundreds of companies wanted to pay the increase. If the court's decision gave a reasonable hope of settlement a delegato conference would be immediately summoned. THE SHIPOWNERS’ CASE. Sir Norman Hill, on behalf of the shipowners, contended that wages reductions were necessary in consequence of bad trade. He denied that the employers had threatened to break up thS national agreements.

He argued on the need for restoring international credit, increasing exports and hard work to repair the war wastage. While freights had fallen working expenses were undiminished. Many shipowners abandoned the hope of evermaking profits. Many of the dockers were making far more than the men producing the articles they handled. Replying to the request of the chairman that they should submit statistics of dividend disbursements, Sir Norman Hill suggested the appointment of a chartered accountant. The chairman replied: “That will never do. The strike must be settled without delay. The court hoped to report to the Miniser of Labour on the 22nd.” The inquiry adjourned.—(Reuter.) WHILE THEY SLEPT. a (Received 10.20 pm.) London, Feb. 21.—The surprise of the country in awaking to the fact that the strike was settled while the population slept will be greater because the main editions of many newspapers were printed before the news arrived. The strike was the most complete of its kind in Britain’s history. All ports were blocked with idle ships. Moreover* there were signs that it would soon be vastly extended to other workers with most serious consequences. The “Daily Express” says the difficulty was to so wrap up the concession of the second shilling that it would not appear to bo 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 daily for which they struck.—(A. and N.Z.) SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION. WORK TO RESUME. ! (Received D. 35 p.m.) London, Feb. 21.—The secretary to the Ministry of Labour states that further conferences held at the Ministry under Mr Shaw’s chairmanship resulted in representatives of the parties reaching an agreement, the terms of which have been accepted by the employers’ representatives and will be recommended by the men’s representatives to a delegate conference which is being summoned to meet at the Ministry of Labour in the evening. Subject, to confirmation work will be resumed at all ports as soon as arrangements can be made.—(Reuter.)