Category: 100 Years Ago

7 MAY 1926

An official statement says that throughout the entire country the vital services of food, milk, light, and power are being successfully maintained by the Government, and every obstacle is being progressively surmounted.

In the official strike bulletin the General Council of the Trade Union Congress states that, while it is ready at any moment to resume negotiations for an honourable settlement, it gives an unqualified “No” to the Premier’s request for an unconditional withdrawal of the strike notices.

Edinburgh experienced some lively scenes in the evening, baton charges being repeatedly made by the police in the High Street in order to disperse the large crowds, which were becoming noisy and menacing.

Mr Saklatvala, the Communist M.P. for North Battersea, refused to be bound over to keep the peace for twelve months, and elected to go to prison for two months.

Lord Banbury’s motion for the second reading of the Trade Disputes Act, 1906 (Repeal), Bill in the House of Lords was, at the suggestion of the Government spokesman, Lord Salisbury, postponed.

The Public Health (Smoke Abatement) Bill was read a third time in the House of Lords.

In the course of a debate in the Commons, which was mainly occupied with the passage of the Emergency Powers regulations, Sir John Simon declared that the decision of the Trade Union Congress to call out everybody regardless of contracts was not lawful. Every man who came out without notice had broken his contract of employment. Every leader and striker was liable in damages.

6 MAY 1926

The Prime Minister, in a message in the British Gazette, asks all good citizens to stand behind the Government, who are doing their part confident that they will co-operate in the measures taken to preserve the liberties and privileges of the people of these islands.

In the House of Lords the Secretary for India, in supporting the continuance of the regulations under the Emergency Powers Act, said that whatever the lengths to which the present quarrel might be carried, it would be ended only with the recognition of the fact that there was one Government and one Government only in this country.

The Government’s new Emergency Regulations were explained in Parliament by the Home Secretary and afterwards debated.

In the House of Commons, Mr McNeill, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, replying to Lieutenant-Commander Kenworthy, said that there was no proposal to close the Stock Exchange during the present emergency.

In the view of the Government, the railway services are improving in a gratifying manner, and a pleasing feature of the situation is the fortitude and good temper shown by the bulk of the population.

The first prosecution at Manchester under the Emergency Regulations, 1926, was that of William Richard Stoker (40), a director of a Manchester company, who was sent to prison for two months in the second division for attempting to do an act calculated to cause disaffection amongst His Majesty’s forces. Stoker’s car, the police stated, was ready to take seditious literature to Glasgow.

Polling took place in the Buckrose (East Yorkshire) Division. The candidates are Major Braithwaite (Unionist), Sir Harry Verney (Liberal), and Mr H. C. Laycock (Socialist). The result is to be declared to-day.

The Polar airship Norge left Trotsky (Gatchina), near Leningrad, for Spitzbergen.

5 MAY 1926

Scenes and incidents in connection with the first day of the general strike are described by correspondents in all parts of the country.

The British Gazette, a Government publication, makes its first appearance to-day. It is a reply to the strike makers’ plan to paralyse public opinion. In an explanation for its appearance the real meaning of the strike is emphasised as well as the conflict between the Trade Union leaders and Parliament.

Proceedings have been taken against Mr Saklatvala, the Communist M.P., on account of a speech made at a May Day demonstration in London.

There was some discussion in the House of Lords with regard to the industrial crisis, following a statement by Lord Salisbury, who said that if wiser counsels did not prevail the Government would do its duty.

Formal first reading was given in the House of Lords to a Bill introduced by Lord Banbury to repeal the Trade Disputes Act.

Through Mr Snowden and Mr Lloyd George the Opposition parties in the House of Commons signified their readiness to expedite passage of the Budget resolutions in view of the overwhelming importance of the industrial situation. The report stage of these resolutions was agreed to, and the Finance Bill was brought in by the Chancellor and read a first time.

4 MAY 1926

Further negotiations for a settlement of the coal dispute failed, and a general strike was called at midnight.

The House of Commons debated a statement by the Premier on the failure of negotiations in the coal dispute.

A number of London newspapers were prevented from being issued by strike action on the part of sections of their workers.

Mr Ramsay MacDonald, addressing the London Labour party, said the situation was such that, so far as he could see, they would have to go on. He did not like a general strike, but what could be done? They were, however, still prepared to negotiate.

Prince Victor Napoleon Bonaparte died at Brussels, following an apoplectic stroke.

At question time in the House of Commons the Financial Secretary to the Treasury said bets made by private persons, whether in clubs or elsewhere, would be outside the scope of the duty.

3 MAY 1926

A general strike in vital services, fixed to begin to-night, has been declared by the Executives of the Unions affiliated to the Trade Union Congress. Efforts to prevent this grave development of the industrial trouble taking place broke down this morning. A Royal Proclamation declares “a state of emergency,” and the Government are taking all necessary precautions for the public safety. One of the first measures is the rationing of fuel.

“Keep steady; remember that peace on earth comes to men of goodwill,” was the message broadcast by the Prime Minister to the country.

Sir Felix Pole, general manager of the Great Western Railway Company, appeals to all employees to hesitate before breaking contracts of service with the Company. The railway companies and the men have shown that they can settle their disputes by direct negotiations. He adds that the mining industry should be advised to do the same.

Inquiries made in the Scottish mining districts made it evident that the miners are determined to hold out, and that financially the strikers’ prospects are gloomy. In most districts the miners’ Unions’ funds are insufficient to make a long stoppage possible without considerable hardship, but this does not appear to worry the men.

2 MAY 1926

A state of emergency was declared in preparation for a national general strike in support of the striking coal miners.

Describing the situation, Ernest Bevin stated that “no work in the vital transport services must go on on Tuesday morning, after stopping time on Monday night. The distribution of essential food supplies will be organised by the trades unions. We have no quarrel with the people.”

1 MAY 1926

The negotiations for the settlement of the coal dispute have broken down.

Sir Alfred Mond, in a statement to the Press on the coal crisis, suggests the reorganisation of the industry for more efficient production, the regulation of output to meet consumption, and a fair reduction of wages. To meet the cost of laying up the worst pits he proposes a levy on tonnage raised, contributions from the reduced wages, and assistance by the Government in the form of loans for re-equipment of collieries.

Lord Provost Sir William L. Sleigh has received intimation from Lord Stamfordham that the King and Queen are to take up residence in Holyrood from 5th to 12th July.

A statement on British foreign policy was made in London by Sir A. Chamberlain at the Women Unionists’ Conference.

Addressing Devon farmers, the Minister of Agriculture said we still imported too much farm produce, but to compete with the foreigner there must be adequate grading. If the industry wanted compulsory grading he would do his best to get Parliament to agree to it. A tax on imported barley would be a troublesome and costly matter.

The Earl of Oxford and Asquith spoke at Watford on Liberal land policy and the “Land Worker’s Charter.” He said that it was in improving the lot and the opportunities of the rural labourer, far more than by any other specific change, that they would find the key to the real revival of the greatest of our national industries.

Mr E. Ashmead-Bartlett, Unionist M.P., has resigned his seat in Parliament for Hammersmith, North.

30 APRIL 1926

Further negotiation took place in London for a settlement of the coal dispute. The discussions were carried on until 12.30 this morning, when it was announced that the owners will put specific proposals before the Prime Minister to-day, and he in turn will meet the Joint Committee of the Trades Union Congress and the miners.

Sir Wm. Joynson-Hicks, Home Secretary, at a meeting at Twickenham, said he was quite sure that the Prime Minister would not ask for a General Election on account of the coal trouble. The Government would be false to the trust reposed in them if they were to run away thus. He referred to the possibility even of a general strike, and asked his hearers to believe that if there was any man who could bring peace to-day it was the present Prime Minister.

Delegates of the London engineering trades, representing over 40,000 men, recommend strike action on the wages question. Indignation was expressed at the insulting proposals of the employers.

Measures taken for the protection of a number of ancient monuments were stated by Viscount Peel in the House of Lords to have been taken by the Office of Works. Ruins on an island off the Argyllshire coast, which contain the remains of early Christian monuments, were mentioned by the First Commissioner.

How best to develop trade with the rest of the Empire was the subject of discussion in the House of Commons. In Committee of Supply on the Civil Service Estimates, votes for expenditure in respect of various departmental buildings, Royal parks and pleasure grounds, Consular buildings, &c., were agreed to.

29 APRIL 1926

Efforts to make progress towards settling the coal problem were unsuccessful. Negotiations between the parties were carried on until a late hour, and will be resumed to-day. The position is reported to be one of great gravity.

By 57 votes to 44 the House of Lords adopted Lord Buckmaster’s resolution requesting the Government to withhold all instructions given to or conditions imposed on Welfare Committees for the purpose of causing such committees to withhold from married women in their district information sought by such women as to the best means of limiting their families.

Further debate took place in the House of Commons on the Budget resolutions. Sir Robert Horne’s speech at the opening of the discussion and the Chancellor’s reply to the debate were the chief features.
Further questions were addressed to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the House of Commons in regard to the Russo-German Treaty.

At a meeting at Westminster a National Emergency Council and Executive were constituted to fight the proposed Betting Tax on behalf of the Churches.

28 APRIL 1926

Under the chairmanship of Mr Baldwin, a joint meeting between the Coalowners’ Committee and the Miners’ Committee took place in London. The discussion lasted a little over an hour, and a further meeting will take place to-day.

In the resumed discussion of the Budget in the House of Commons the attack was led by Mr Philip Snowden, whose suggestion that taxation could be substantially reduced if national production were doubled was not missed by Mr Kidd, the Unionist member for Linlithgowshire. Financial resolutions were adopted in relation to the issue of stock in exchange for Savings Certificates, and to the increase of the Sinking Fund by £10,000,000.

The Bill to raise the status of the Secretary for Scotland to that of a Principal Secretary of State has been introduced by the Prime Minister, and is backed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Home Secretary.

A Standing Committee of the House of Commons has begun consideration of the Government’s Electricity Supply Bill.