SEAMEN'S STRIKE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1133, 22 May 1911, Page 5

SEAMEN'S STRIKE.

SEVEN THOUSAND MEN IN HOLIDAY CAMPS.

UNUSUAL PROTEST IN BRITAIN-

Bj Teloßrapu—Press Association-Oopyriebt

(Roe. May 21, 5.5 p.m.)

London, May 20. As a protest against tho refusal of. tho Shipping Federation to admit that tho seamen have any grievances • requiring present discussion, tho National Seamen's Union is arranging holiday camps lasting a fortnight.

Tho camps aro to be started on May 20, and it is expected that seven thousand seamen from' various ports will join; the camps. The Seamen's Union officials deny that the movement is a strike, although they state it may develop into one at any moment. WORLD-WIDE PLANS. Mr. J. Havelcck Wilson, secretary of the British Sailors' and Firemen's Union and of tho International Union of Seafarers, has been organising tho .seamen of Europe for a year or more, with tho view to a declaration o.f an international striko should the shipoiuiors refuse a series of demands put forward for the betterment of seamen's .conditions.

In January last' Mr. Ben Tillet, in reply to inquiries, said tho strike would undoubtedly take place. It was not'to bo thought, however, that the Coronation period had been chosen because of that event. Tho Coronation was a mere accident, and the striko was inevitable in tho present circumstances. The plans must be kept secret, but the striko would take place at British, German, and American ports within 24 hours when it did occur.

Mr. J. Henson, of Barry, the Bristol Channel representative of the British Sailors' ana Firemen's Union, jaid:— "I am not at present in a position to state on what date the international seamen's strike will take place; the actual dato fixed is only known to the heads of the different departments of our organisations, but we are prepared if called upon to come out to-morrow. Seventy-five per cent, of tho seamen aro in our rank?, and the rest would only be too glad to throw in their lot with us. If tho striko does come about it will not only paralyse shipping at Barry and in the Bristol Channel, but all over the United Kingdom, the United States, and' practically all Europe. How the shipowners would fight us is more than I can say. They could not fight us by employing Chinese, because of the language tests, and all the others would be on.our side. We do not want to strike. All we want is a Conciliation Board, and if we could get this I should think wo could get our other demands."

An international conference was held at Antwerp in March last. At its conclusion tho German delegates declared that as the German seamen had obtained a rise in wages it would be difficult for them to take part in. the movement. Tho Belgians said they would first havo to refer to the Trade' Union Committee.• It was intimated by tho United' States delegates that tho Atlantic ports, at any rate, were frivourablo to a strike. Norway, Denmark, and Holland were favourable to a strike.