SERIOUS GAS STRIKE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 95, 22 April 1944, Page 5

SERIOUS GAS STRIKE

MANCHESTER WITHOUT ] SUPPLIES • ’ . 1 SOLDIERS TO RUN PLANT ! Recd. 8.20 p.m. London, April 20. ' Manchester’s entire gas services . have been paralysed by a strike of 1 500 men demanding an extra penny an < hour. Ninety per cent, of the city’s < population will bo without bread tomorrow, unless the strike ends, because a majority of bakeries use gas ' coke ovens. ( The strike, which began at 6 a.m. • to-day, already brought to a standstill i war factories and deprived hospitals, households, hotels and restaurants of hot meals. Gas supplies dwindled throughout the day from 25,000,000 t cubic feet, to 6,000,000 at 6 p m., when a general order was issued: “Turn off all gas!” The city gas chief explained that it was necessary to retain 6,000,000 cubic I feet in the mains to keep up the requisite pressure to avoid air pockets. Flying-squad loud-speaker cars 'rushed to the districts to warn 220,000 ; consumers that any attempt to use 'further gas might result in explosions. 1 Recd. 8.45 p.m. London, April 21. Three hundred troops arrived at the manchester gas works early in the morning Io take over and run the flant. They will work under the irection of technicians.* TROOPS RIJN LONDON BL'S TRANS ORT j Recd. 6 p.m. London, April 20. I A hitherto sma’.l strik n of London I busmen to-night, assumed serious pro- | uortions, threatening the capital with I the greatest transport hold-un since l the complete stoppage in the coronation year. 1937. I Troops, for the first time in the i history of London transport > were ! drafted in to-day to drive buses on ’various routes. This creat'd resentj ment among working employees, many of whom to-night joined the strikers. : The Minister of War Transport | arranged to ren' — all strikers with soldiers, and. necessary, use [military lorries, some of which were | a’ready being employed, to shift the ’ rush hour crowds SIGNS OF COLLAPSE 0" STRIKE Reed. 8 p.m. London. Anril 21. i There are signs that th' 1 London busmen's strike is collapsing. The men ’at three of five affected depots are re- ’ suming this morning.