Australian Shipping Trouble.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18426, 6 July 1925, Page 8

Australian Shipping Trouble.

It has happened as most people expected it would with the Australian shipping trouble, though it is to be hoped that the intervention of the New South Wales Government will have the good results that the Premier, according to this morning's messages, anticipates. Xow that the articles of several ships have expired (as from the end of June) the crews have refused work except on their own conditions, and it is difficult, at this distance, to say how far the trouble may extend. What is known, however, is that during the last few days several additions have been made to the number of idle vessels at Sydney, and unless there is an unexpected weakening - in the determination oi! the Seamen's Union, or .of the Shipowners' Association, or of both, to light the deregistration battle to the end, a general hold-up of Australian shipping is probable. The dispute now turns 011 the claim of the men to have the conditions of the award included in all new articles, and the very least that can be said is that the inconsistencies of Mr' Walsh, the acknowledged leader of the Australian seamen, must be exasperaling in the extreme to the Australian people. When the application for the deregistration of the union was before the Higher Court, Mr Walsh indicated his "contempt"' for the Arbitration Court in plain terms, and scouted any suggestion that the men would look upon the deprivation of their rights under the award as a punitive measure. Yet the application by the owners for deregistration was no sooner granted than the seamen awoke suddenly to the benefits conferred upon them by the despised' award, and asked for a guarantee that these benefits would remain with them. The justice of the owners' refusal to comply with the demands is, however, beyond argument. It was on their application, on the grounds of misdemeanour, that tho High Court, after extended proceedings, cancelled the-registration of the union, and it is certainly not their duty to nullify /the Court's finding. The root cause of these disputes which periodically paralyse Australian trade is the fixed desire of the men's leaders to clear the way for complete " job " control." They have attempted to achieve their purpose on this occasion—an occasion which has extended over seven • months —by devious methods. The alleged reasons for the disputes which have arisen in quick succession since last December have been as numerous as the occasions themselves, but the real purpose has become increasingly obvious, and now Mr Walsh has been emboldened to declare openly his purpose to maintain the men's organisation without " interference" by the Arbitration Court or any other form of authority. Australia is thus faced with a situation whieh must give every section of its public cause for serious thought. Miv Walsh is ambitious; he lias gained for himself the power to decide when the seamen shall, and shall not, work, and he is apparently secure in that position, despite the fact that he was howled down by angry seamen and lumpers at Perth in December. Bui it is not likely that the general public, which is interested in shipping only •when a hold-up threatens to affect its pocket, will accept a " dictator " as submissively as the seamen have accepted a "leader."