The Gas Strike is said to be over. It was
evident from the first that the men had miscalculated their strength, and on Monday a decision of Mr. Lushington, sitting magistrate at the Thames Police-court, spread a perfect panic among them. He decided that four men in the employ of the Commercial Gas Company were weekly servants, had quitted their work without notice, and must in the public interest suffer six weeks' imprisonment. This severe sentence, and an opinion from Mr. Maude committing two other stokers for trial for conspiracy, were followed by a regular stampede, scores of the men, it is stated, going into hiding. The Com- panies, satisfied with the alarm they have created, are now willing to take back " all but ringleaders," upon their submission and signing an agreement to give a week's notice. That is all fair enough, but we want to know whether if anybody prosecutes the Companies for giving the insufficient light they are now doing, Mr. Lushington will give the Directors six weeks. They deserve it quite as much as the men, for not being prepared, and it would do them permanent good. We do not believe we shall have decent
light within a month, and not then, if those injured by the want do not bring actions against the Companies.
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