UPHEAVAL IN ENGLAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3294, 12 August 1911, Page 7

UPHEAVAL IN ENGLAND.

WIDESPREAD INDUSTRIALSTRIFE

“ LONDON MAY BE ISOLATED.”

MILITARY HELD IN READINESS.

[UNITED PRISB ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.! LONDON, Aug. Though the London carmen and lightermen’s strike is no* worse, all the Aldershot command' is moving to London forthwith. The cavalry and Dragoons go by road, and the infantry by rail. They have been provided with ball cartridges. The strike situation at Liverpool is threatening. Pickets prevent goods leaving the docks and railway depots. The goods service of the district is held up, and the passenger service is dislocated. There have been numerous disorders and outrages, including the overturning of a brewer’s dray, knocking in the bungs and distributing beer to the mob. The Lord Mayor and the Chief Constable of Liverpool conferred with prominent leaders of the strikers, with the view of possible action for preserving the peace and obviating the necessity of utilising outside forces. Mr. Thomas, M.P., secretary of the Society of Railwayman, declared that discontent was steadily growing. In all grades the grievances were numerous. Particularly there was complete dissatisfaction with the work of the 7 Conciliation Boards, which throughout favored the employers. It was also exceedingly difficult to get decisions put into operation. The combinations and pooling arrangements of the great lines were affecting workers adversely. The situation had arisen spontaneously. The union had not organised the strike. Non-unionists were receiving strike pay.. Half the strikers, he said, are non-unionists. Mr. Thomas added : “London may be completely isolated, and food supplies cut off.” The London Omnibus Company has withdrawn one-third of its omnibuses owing to a shortage of petrol, there being only three days’ supply remaining. The steamer Tnrakina has landed her passengers at Plymouth. Some London streets are as quiet as on Sundays. Commercial vehicular traffic has ceased. Extra police have been drafted to the strike areas. Crowds at Paddington prevented vans leaving. There have been many isolated cases of personal injuries and arrests. Fish porters at Billingsgate refused to work unless 2s. per hour was paid. The masters conceded the demand. Mr. Askwith has arranged a settlement with the coal porters. An agreement is being signed, giving increased wages and other concessions. The conditions at Liverpool are rapidly becoming worse. Detachments of the Warwickshire Regiment and 200 Irish constabulary have arrived. 1 here were riotous scenes at the Central station. Later accounts state that the Woolwich and Aldershot commands have been ordered to be in readiness. Heavy drafts are already moving from Aidershot to London.

TROOPS SLEEP IN THEIR CLOTHES. VAST QUANTITIES OF COODS DETAINED, MUTTON DOUBLED IN PRICE. (Received August 11, 10.55 p.m.) LONDON, August 11. The troops at Aldershot are sleeping in their clothes. The Hussars entrained at 10 o’clock, and the Queen’s Bays and Third Dragoons followed them. The Royal Irish Rifles and the Worcestershire Regiments at Dover are confined to barracks in readiness to proceed to London. All officers on leave have been recalled. Similar arrangements have been mad© in regard to the troops at Colchester, where trains have been held in readiness. It is understood that it is intended that foodstuffs shall be escorted by troops with fixed bayonets from the docks. The Army Service Corps lias sent 40 motor lorries to the docks to draw food and forage to Aldershot The troops at the Woolwich garrison had to go without their breakfast yesterday until the troops with fixed bayonets assisted the orntractors. Riotous proceedings have been witnessed, and business is dislocated in all parts of London. It is estimated that 500,000 tons of goods are detained at the docks! exclusive of food and other commodities coming by the railway. Many lorries and motor vans have been overturned in the Paddington district, whore- the Great Western Railway pieketers are very energetic. Fifty per centum of the Loudon Generanl Motor Company’s omnibuses have boon withdrawn, and 1200 men have thus been thrown idle. Australian mutton, wliich is usually retailed at threepence per pound, is now selling at sixpence.

“ LONDON NEAR STARVATION.” KEIF? H ARDIE’S ADVICE. PAY THEM IN THEIR OWN COIN. Mr. Keir Hardie, M.P., at Tower Hill, addressed a crowd as folloivs:— “Make the most of having brought London near starvation. The masters starve and sweat you. Pay them in their own coin.” Eloa'c.u thousand railway men are striking at Liverpool. Four thousand are in enforced idleness, and two thousand cartel’s, Avith six thousand dockers, are boycotting the goods depots in sympathy. There have been frequent conflicts, and the police have been, pelted AAith bricks, glass bottles and apples. They made upwards of a hundred baton "charges. Many outrages are reported, such as Avhen a hundred strikers folloAved drays laden with fowls, and, smashing the crates, liberated the birds. The Lord Mayor of Liverpool lias issued a. proclamation warning the strikers that the military will be available to assist the police if necessary, and that he Avill invoice the aid of the*'Riot Act. Four hundred soldiers of the Warwickshire Regiment have arrived; also police from Leeds and Birmingham, together Avith two hundred of the Royal Irish Constabulary.