DOCKERS DETERMINED

Chronicle (Levin), 18 July 1949, Page 5

DOCKERS DETERMINED

(N.Z.P.A.-

- Reuter ,

Strike To Continue Whatever The Sacrifice

. Covuriant)

Received Mondav 11 a.m. LONDON, July 17. The London dockers were all anxious to work, but they would not work "black" ships and were rietermined to continue the struggle no matter what the sacrifice, said Mr. E. Thomas, of the Dockers' Lookout Committee, when 10,000 people packed Trafalgar Square today to hear protest speeches at a mass meeting of strikers, About 1700 of the 14,638 men in the dispute marched to the Square. Among them were striking canaciian seamen from the Beaverbrae and Argomont, the two ships which the dockers have refused to unload. Mr. Thomas said that the men might be turned to an "angry and ugly mood." Mr. John Platts Mills, Independont Labour member of Parliament, said: "I challenge the Government with not wanting to solve this dispute. Even I could settle it in ten niinutes." A member of the strike committee of the Canadian Seamen's Union issued, on behalf of the Canadian strikers, a statement that they were ready to meet the Canadian shipowners immediately in an the attempt to settle the dispute.

Drivers Not Influencecl. A representative committee of 700 drivers and transport workers af Spittalfields Market decided today, after hearing the case put by ihe Canadian seamen and dockers. to carry on handiina freight and vegetables being unloaded at the London docks by troops. The meetm» was addressed by Canadian .seamen and two dockers. After the meeting a spokesman lor the drivers said: "We stand by -ne country and the Government, Our attitude is that if we refuse • o handle the food unloaded by the ' roops then we. and our wives and : hildren have no right to eat."