The despatching and matter departments were the first to stop work and as thes with the sorters and car up the most important br the service, their absence was most Keenly felt yesterday. Of course, the indoor staff, say, the rtamp- departs weavings Lank, ete were carrying on, but dhe amount they. eon tributed to the service, 40 far as the local community were concern= ad, was nil, Inside the despatching department and the post office com pound were huge stacks of mail waiting to be distributed or sent ut but no attempts were made to damage or open them, much Tess fave them sent to their various destinations.
The lifts were not working and many of the doors, which are usually open, were closed, As no mails are being moved about it was not surprising for our representative to be informed, in connexion with the printed matter department, that no newspapers could be despatched. So outport renders of the "North-China Daily News' must forgive us, realizing, they will, that the fault is not clerks remained loyal and it is to their credit to mention that not a single one of them remained away from work. The telephone operators and the Tiftmen also went out, but there Is no doubt that force was used to intimidate the latter: one of them began to work in the morning but left when he had no alternative.
While expressing the hope that the altair would be settled during the course of the day, Mr. Stapleton-Cotton did not antic trouble. He was of the obit that there was was no ficance attached to and said that it) was it the trouble had been caused by men who had not been Tong in the postal service. He would mention no. names, but information was that it had heel started by certain yuswow-sung (postal apprentices), whose age ages are about 22, 'The sorters the carriers, as well others, said Mr.' Stapleton: had no desire to stop worl hearts were not with the but they were foreed by intimid tion to remain away.
Asked by the "North China" representative what salaries the men No parcels are accepted for the precent, nor are local express letters, but we understand that local mails are being accepted as usual, but not delivered. While no del very can be made at the post office, ether than into the boxes, work is being done by clerks on a state of emergency, box-holders may received thely mail as usual.
Building as Strike Mq.
The irony of the thing is that the men are using the building as their headquarters and meetings were continually: being held in the despatching department, yesterday, the strikers being addressed young men, apparently junior menibers of the service. The speakers not have great audiences but what they said was generally received with rounds of appl and hand-clapping. dominant the "North-China Daily News" representative could of hear a word uttered by the different speakers, although they were: yelling in high tones. "Postmen and coolies sat unconcerned ly in the compound, some on tags of mail, others on the Iandceive $28 on appointment,—which pay goes up to $110 by seniority, all depending on. personal character and ability.
Sorters are paid $18 on entering! the service and this pay goes up {0 $43, on the same conditions.
Postal carriers get $17 at the beginning, and $18 after the first six months. There is periodical Promotion till they reach $43} and then they are made deliry inspectors, when they receive $5, $10 or $15 allowance.
The Men's Demands In presenting the following demands, which evidently have. been prompted by Bolshevik influence, the.men have issued a lengthy manifesto. Their demands are:—
Recognition of the. Postal One ployees" Usion chal be afforded 20 ficial mouthpiece of the employees of the Shanghai ieanch of the Postal Ser Hainuan el bass, on the ame' level The palment of all wages on the
erie 28 follows.
Sorfeasr Tie. 237": Postal Car? ci" apprentices) Tis.
Fors and Ting' Toais (servants), Tls. 20; ard d. Coclies, Tls. 18, at Yeast.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.