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The Great Strike
The General Strike was called off by the Council of The Trades' Union Congress at 1.15 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister had made it quite clear that the Strike had to be called off without conditions being entered into by the Government.
It is the view of many that the steadfastness displayed by the people as a whole really brought about the decision to abandon the General Strike. The Trade Union leaders, it is thought, must have seen that this weapon was, in the long run, bound to tell. If the Strike had not been called off by the T.U.C. there would, in a few days time, have been no strike to call off, so numerous were men returning to work.
As Mr Baldwin said, it was a victory for the common sense of the best part of the people of the United Kingdom.
BUNTINgFORD EMERGENCY COMMITTEE
During the recent crisis, the Buntingford Rural District Council formed themselves into a District Emergency Committee, and meetings were held on Thursday, Saturday, and Tuesday.
It was stated that under the Emergency Act of 1926 the Council had been vested with various powers.
Captain E.T. Morris stated that the ratepayers of the district should know that their representatives on the Council were watching matters on their behalf.
The question of food supplies was discussed at the meeting on Thursday, and returns called for from local traders.
The Chairman (Captain H.H. Williams) and Mr Scarborough Taylor undertook the work of securing returns from the Buntingford tradesmen, and these were carefully tabulated by Mrs Scarborough Taylor, Mr Claud Fraser, and helpers.
At the meeting of the Emergency Committee, held at the Board Room on Saturday, Mr Scarborough Taylor was co-opted on the Committee. He reported that with the assistance of Mr F.W. Butler, Mr B.E. Thody, and Mr B. Kennedy, he had made a survey of the whole of the Buntingford district, and that foodstuffs appeared sufficient to meet the normal demands of the public for some time.
The Council thought this was most re-assuring.
TRANSPORT
On Monday, Mr Scarborough Taylor, who was appointed Transport Officer for the Buntingford district, made a complete list of all the motor transport which could be called upon for the conveyance of foodstuffs to the district.
FREE CANTEEN
Matters became so well organised that by Wednesday morning it was found practicable to establish a free canteen for all lorry drives passing through the town. The canteen was opened at Mr Maughan's office in the High Street, and a large notice was posted up to the effect that drivers of lorries and special constables on duty could obtain free refreshments between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.
There was a general rush of volunteers to assist with the scheme, and four shifts were arranged: Mr H.C. Marshall and Mr F.W. Butler taking the first turn from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., Mr G.H. Maughan and Mr G. Scarborough Taylor from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m., Mr C.S. Knowles, Mr S. Lees and Mr H.A. Thody from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m., and Mr H. Clarke and Mr B.E. Thody from 5 a.m to 8 a.m.
During Wednesday night, 87 drivers of lorries were entertained at the Canteen, and all were very grateful for the hospitality shown. A large number of the men were on long-distance trips, and as some were on their journey to London from the North it was decided to run the canteen on Thursday night also. Again many drivers took advantage of the opportunity for a rest and refreshment.
Thanks are due to the ladies' committee, who were responsible for the provisions. The committee were Mrs H.C. Marshall, Mrs G. Scarborough Taylor, Mrs Amstrong, Mrs G.H. Maughan and Mrs E.G. Thody.
TRAMS AND BUSES
Although there were no trains on the Buntingford Branch a service of buses was started on Monday morning, the Buntingford driver taking the 8.10 bus to Ware as usual.
THE NEWS
The welcome news that the strike was to be called off, was made known by wireless shortly after 1 p.m. on Wednesday. The announcer said further announcements would be held over for a few minutes as some important news was expected.
After a few minutes wait, he read a message from No. 10, Downing Street, to the effect that the Trades' Union Congress had decided to call off the strike. Within a few minutes flags were flying from many windows in the High Street.
NEWSPAPERS AND THE STRIKE
As was generally expected no papers reached Buntingford during the first two or three days of the strike. A British Gazette was posted up at the Police Station on Thursday, and two strike specials were issued in the district. This paper and the Hertfordshire Mercury published their usual editions on Friday.
On Sunday evening a supply of Continental Daily Mails, brought from France by aeroplane, were delivered in the town, and there was a ready sale for the paper, which contained photographs of strike scenes in London.
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the British Gazette was freely sold in the district, and gave confidence.
