TROOPS MAY BE USED TO BREAK DOCKERS' STRIKE

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 June 1948, Page 5

TROOPS MAY BE USED TO BREAK DOCKERS' STRIKE

..eed. 7.4 u p.m. x-umion, June 28 i ne muUsU’ial correnpunuem cn me "Daily leiegrapn says that bauu serviuemen win be availame touay lor tor work in the London aocks unless a suostanual proportion 01 i9,uuu unolucial uock strikers sign on. oolaiers, sailors and airmen will be used lo discharge the cargoes ot Ibz snips Held up uy tne striae, wnicfi today enters ns uiird week.

The secretary ot tne Transport and General Workers' Union, Mr. Arthur Deakin, said the dockers wanted to resume worn. Their decision was clear, despite attempts to create contusion at their meetings. In a leader, "The Times" says: “The Labour Government in the dock strike situation, in Berlin and in tne touch-and-go struggle to save Britain from economic disaster, must permanently dispel the impression of waiting upon events." The secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union, Mt. Deakin, commenting on the meeting at Liverpool, said reports from union officials showed the meeting was totally unrepresentative of Liverpool dockers. Only 250 voted in favour ot a strike. The remainder were not entitled to vote.

A meeting of about 20,000 striking London dockers ended yesterday in arguments whether a resolution to resume work today had been carried. After the men had voted by a show of hands, union officials said that a return to work had been approved, but many of the dockers disputed this. Groups surrounded Mr. Arthur Deakin, secretary of the Transport and General Workers’ Union, who had called the meeting. A delegate of the unofficial strike committee said the dockers would not go back. He said that their representatives were already seeking the support of dockers at other British ports.

Mr. Deakin commented after the London meeting that there might be attempts to create confusion about the position, but there was no doubt that the majority of the dockers wanted to go back. The union executives had therefore instructed the members to return to work immediately. Earlier, between 4000 and 5000 striking dockers, with fewer than 20 dissentients, pased a motion of confidence in the onofficial strike committee. . A large-scale invasion of the docks by servicemen is expected if the dockers remain on strike. Troops did not-work at the docks on Saturday. Life Guards are undergoing instruction in tally-clerking in case other troops are drafted to the docks •o move the large quai.tities of meat lying in refrigerating ships. The Admiralty stated that ft has obtained from naval establishments returns of men available who are suitable for work in the London docks. These men are standing by. The National Federation of Meat Traders announced that until further notice, the meat ration would be 6d or less worth of carcase meat and the balance in corned beef because of the dockers’ and cold storage workers’ strike.