HC Deb 28 February 1927 vol 203 cc6-8
8. Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the railway strike is still continuing, and how many men are affected; whether he is aware that one of the grounds of the strike is the refusal of the companies to recognise the union; and what steps the Government are taking to bring the parties together?

11 Mr. THURTLE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India (1) whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a ban has been placed on public meetings at Khargpur; whether this ban includes meetings of members of the Bengal-Nagpur Railway Union; and, if so, whether he will inform the House on whose authority this action was taken;

(2) whether his attention has been drawn to the action taken by the police at Khargpur on 14th February last, when two rounds of ammunition were fired into a meeting of railway workers; whether he will make a statement as to the number of casualties resulting from this action; and will he inform the House as to the authority responsible for issuing the order to fire on the meeting; and

(3) whether his attention has been drawn to the strike of workers on the Bengal-Nagpur Railway; and whether he will give information as to the causes of the dissatisfaction among the workers, resulting in the withdrawal of labour, and also as to the number of men affected?

Earl WINTERTON

My noble Friend is informed by the Government of India that the strike on the Bengal-Nagpur Railway still continues in places, the number of men affected being about 14,000 or 15,000 out of a total of 65,000. The immediate cause of the strike is said to have been the transfer of the branch secretary of the Khargpur Union from cue department to another. The secretary, under the impression that he was being victimised, refused to report for duty and was fined a day's pay. On this the men in the railway workshop struck work on 9th February. On the facts being reported to the agent, he cancelled the fine and explained that the transfer was temporary only, in order that the branch secretary might assist in the allotment of quarters, regarding which the union had made representations. On receiving this explanation, the men returned to work, but on 11th February, against the advice of the branch secretary, they got out of hand and decided to strike. When the strikers attempted to stop by violence the working of the line and a police officer had been struck on the head, the District Magistrate had to employ force, and the police found it necessary to fire two rounds. The total casualties reported are 16 men injured, in four causes seriously, but no deaths. I am not aware of any ban on meetings at Khargpur. Various grievances had previously been put forward and were being inquired into, and I am informed that the attitude of the Railway administration is very conciliatory. The union has been recognised by the railway administration for some years past.

Mr. THURTLE

Was any warning given before ball cartridge was used?

Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURY

Is the Noble Lord watching the speeches of the hon. Member for Battersea, North (Mr. Saklatvala), which were coincident with the prolongation of the strike?

Mr. JOHNSTON

Is there anything in the allegation that one of the chief grievances in the prolongation of the strike is that houses in Khargpur have been destroyed by the railway administration?

Earl WINTERTON

This is the first have heard of the allegation, and I think it is probably entirely without foundation. With regard to the question of the hon. Member for Shoreditch (Mr. Thurtle) I shall have to have notice, but I imagine that warning was given to the crowd that unless they refrained from doing the damage, which they were doing to railway property serious consequences would ensue.