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O fully understand the cause of the strike it is necessary first to quote the following passage from the statement of the Government at the close of the March negotiations. This statement, it was noticed at the time, did not appear m the Board of Trade announcement of the terms:—

"Wages and Standard Rates of Pay.—The present wages to be stabilised till December 31st, 1919, and any reduction of the War Wage under the agreement of November, 1918, to be waived.

"As regards standardisation of rates of pay and removal of present anomalies, this can only be dealt with in connection with a general revision of permanent wages, and, therefore, it is proposed that the present negotiations shall be continued for fixing new standard rates, so as to ensure that all men throughout the country shall receive the same payment for the same work under the same conditions.

"This will involve reduction of the War Wage, but the Government are prepared to agree that up to December 3lst no man shall receive less in weekly rate of wages plus War Wage, than he is receiving at present, while anyone to whom the new War Wage and new rate yield more than they are receiving at present, shall receive the advantage as soon as an arrangement is arrived at.