TRANSPORT STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1454, 31 May 1912, Page 5

TRANSPORT STRIKE

STRIKE-BREAKERS IMPORTED. OWNERS REFUSE TO MEET THE MEN. TROUBLE MAY EXTEND. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright, London, Jlay 2<J. Hundreds of slrike-lneakers are. reachins Hid ducks to-day. A privately organised civilian force 0.-cniled numerous worker* (o the docks la.-t night. Tho "Shipping tiazcttc" stales that the Shaw, Savill, aiul .Allium Company's donl;cyinen have struck, including tlioso engaged in rel'iigcraling work on the steamers Waimans am] h'augatira. The Shipping' Federal ion's vessel Lady .Tocelyn, filled wilh flee labourers, nlteniptcd io enter the .AH.-erl Docks to replace the donkeyinen, but (lie I'ort of London Aulhority lel'iised 'ihe Lady Jocelyn admission. It is reported that this was in consequence of an understanding between 51 r. M'Ken11a (Romp Secretary) and the strikers. A special meeting of iho London Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution affirming the right of employers to engage either unionists or non-unionists, and urging that iho Government afford protection. Twenty of iho rioters who upset a van at Canning Town were fined 40s. each with tho alternative of a month's imprisonment. Further harness-cutting occurred in tho Fast Fuel to-day, the- carts containing some of (he apples by the steamer Hcctor. Tho Strike Committee has issued hundreds of permits, including souio for the removal of refuse, CONFERENCE DECLINED. SHIPOWNUIIS* ATTITUDE. (llec. Slay 31, O.'JS a.m.) London, May 30. The Strike Committee interviewed Mr. Buxton, President of the Hoard of Trade, and discussed tho preliminaries of Friday's conference. The men declared their ■desire for full recognition of the union; for tho investigation of all questions underlying tho unrest; and for a guarantee by a really representative attendance of employers that agreements in future will be maintained. Mr. Potter, of Messrs. Wirt, Potter, and Hughes, sliipln-okcrs and Merchants, in a letter to Mr. Buxton, on behalf of tho London shipowners, says the owners' l)ock Labour Committee declines Mr. Buxton's invitation, on tho ground that Inst autumn's agreements and award have now been set aside as futile. Tho shipowners have no confidence, and no assurance that any negotiations at present will have any greater reality or be more permanent". Mr. Ben Tillctt, secretary of tho Dockers' Union, on being interviewed regarding tSio attitude of the shipowners, said the owners as a bony had never honestly recognised their contracts. Mr. Potter's organisation had never attempted to 011forco tiie agreements or to hold shipowners, contractors, and wharfingers to honour the agreements reached. THREAT OF GENERAL STRIKE. THE MEN'S INTENTIONS. (Rec. May 31, 0.25 a.m.) London, Jlny 30. Mr. Gosling, president of the 'Transport Workers' Federation, in addressing a gathering of twenty thousand men at Tower llill, said Sir Edward Clnrko in his award had decided that the men were not. entitled to refuse to work with nonunionists; but this they were going to do. The carmen were tho worst paid class, and they would ask for a minimum wage, with machinery for adjusting future difficulties. Mr. Anderson, secretary of the Transport ■ Workers' Federation, threatens a national strike unless the importation of blacklegs ceases. Jlr. Orbeli, of the Dockers' Union, states that steps will bo taken to prevent the unloading of ships which may be diverted to the Continent. Tho Central .Council of the International Transport Workers' Federation is holding a meeting in Berlin with a view to taking international action. MEAT SHIPS HELD UP. DIMINISHING GRAIN STOCKS. (Rec. May 31, 0.25 a.m.) London, May 30. Yesterday 323" quarters of beef were conveyed from tho docks to Smithfield. Five vessels, with 400,000 carcasses of Australian ami Nov: Zealand sheep and lamb are waiting in the river. Tho Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange has demanded immediate legislation to deal with tho situation, inasmuch as the present methods of protection are entirely inadequate. The Corn Exchange of London has directed the Government's attention to tho diminishing stocks of gram aild the danger of the diversion of fresh supplies to the Continent. The Maidstone members of tho Amalgamated Society of Watermen and Lightermen have struck.