THREATENED STRIKES IN LONDON.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 478, 10 July 1890, Page 2

THREATENED STRIKES IN LONDON.

THE POSTAL EMPLOYEES AND POLICEMEN. BIOTS IN I.ONDON. London, July 8. The quarrel of the postmen has reached un acute stage, and an important decision will be arrived at to night. The Postmaster-General has declined to recognise the union formed by the postmen. Tha delivery of mails has been delayed owing to the attitude assumed by tha men. The latter will come to a final decision as to going out on strike to night. The Pos'master Genera! has given notice that if any of the postmen are absent at five o’clock to morrow they are to be instantly dismissed.

It has been decided that postmen on tegular establishment will be placed on a pension footing. Two thousand postmen postponed tha threatened strike in consequence of the Loudon Trades Council having offered them assistance within 12 days. The Postmaster General reinstated the men suspended for having attended a meeting of the Union.

It was reported that the Grenadiers had refused duty, but this is denied. Twenty two street oons'.ables have been reported and forty suspended for refusing duty on Saturday. Hitherto 'he police strike has only been averted by lhe advice cf the elder man of the force.

The Government is pressing on a Police Pensions Bill in the House of Commons. The public are indignant at the intimidation employed by the men, and plenty of special constables are ready to volunteer.

Over thirty constables who were suspended have been dismissed for refusing, or hesitating, to proceed on duty whan ordered. There ia oonriderable excitement, and many messages of sympathy have been received from other divisions. It is stated that 3,500 men are pledged to strike to night. The police who were suspended allege they only hesitated, and finally went on duty. Sir Edward Bradford personally inquired into the charges, and dismissed 48 of the men.

A crowd of a thousand, mostly roughs, assembled and blockaded Bow Street, interfering with the egress to the Convent Garden Theatre, where the Prince of Wales was present. The mounted police occasionally charged along the pavertient and roadway? knocking many persons down. A equadron of Life Guards patrolled the streets. The crowd cheered the soldiers and tha constables, but hissed the police officers, and pelted them with flour and stones. The City Police and Metropolitan Force are on duty, but 1,000 more threaten to strike this morning. The Prince of Wales was sheared on leaving the theatre. Owing to the increasing rowdiness of the roughs additional Guardshad to bssummoned. A few windows have been broken and one hotel partially wrecked. At one o’clock heavy raio fell and the crowd dispersed. Many of the clerks are engaged guarding the banks and rich stores. Strong reserves 0! police are being stationed at various points, but at present all is quiet. Later. With few exceptions all the police are on duty. The police constables who were dismissed addressed a meeting in Bow Street in the afternoon. Some of the speakers urged violent resistance, but there was an evident want of union, and the elder members of the force were relucant to face dismissal. Large numbers of policemen in p'ain clothes incited a crowd of 5000 rowdies in the evening, and the conduct of mobs was strongly intimidating until the Guards arrived. The mob threw missiles at the police officers. Many of the men tried to cut the reins of the troopers’ horses. The foot constables were of little assistance, and it was apparent their sympathy was with their comrades.