TENSION IN SYDNEY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1918, 28 November 1913, Page 8

TENSION IN SYDNEY.

TOFUA'S BANANAS BLOCKED

RED FEDERATION DELEGATE'S ADDRESS, MR PARRY'S "FACTS." By TtloßMpli-Press Assoclalion-CoftsriirM Sydney, November 27. the steamer Toitia brought 2?,C00 mine lies ol bananas lfom Fiji. Tho merchants ofl'ered £IUO bonus' to tho }vharr labourers to discharge tho frnit, but tbe oiler was declined. It is stated that the Union Company will mdoav.inr to unload the bananas with the assistance oi stall's from .other vessels. It was understood that the Union Company's clerks would start unloading the Tofua's bananas late vestcrd'av, but they did not. Tho clerk's finished the Willochra's cargo, also the Manuka's, yesterday morning. Tito remainder of tho day was spent in removing fruit and other cargo irom the Maktira, winch is likewise now clear of fruit. There lias been no trouble in regard'to tho carting, no interruption having been attempted.

ENTER; SIR. PARKY. Sydney, November 27. Mr. t'arry, representing the Wellington waterside workers, and a representative of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, addressed the Wharf Labourers' Union last night. Ho stated that tiro Dominion striker was more determined and in a better position now than ever before, so far as tbe hopo of win* ning tho struggle was concerned. Numbers ofi unionists were resuming work, hut it had never been anticipated that they would remain out for any time, seeing that they only came out as a, protest against certain action. Such resumptions did not affect the strikers in the least, v

Tin) secretary of the Sydney Wharf Labourers' Union .says it is. unlikely that the claims of tho Australian Waterside Workers' Federation will lie dealt with until tho present troublo is over. A conference with tho shipping companies will be arranged in Melbourne with regard to tho darnis, hut it is not Ijkcly to ho held until tha present dispute, has been settled. The Amalgamated Minors' Association at Broken Hill lias voted £1000 to the New Zealand strikers. (Gee. November 27, 10 p.m.) Sydney, November 27. The Maheno's stewards, following tha example of the crew, left tho vessel this morning. Tho Wakatipu has arrived from Laun« ceaton with a cargo of oats. Tha wharf men are giving her a wjdo north, and tho cargo has not been towelled, Merchants, most of whom are Chiiieso, havo supplied their own tneli fot 1 tlio discharging of tho 'Musi's bananas. The Union Company's staff of clerks is still engaged in unloading, but tho wharf clerks who decided last night only to jwrform their regular duties are not participating in this work. Sir James Mills (managing dircctoi of tho Union Company) states that tho dorks performed their duties well, and shifted as much of the cargo as the regular wharf men. He denies tho statement that the company lias treated the Crania's immigrants harshly. Tho company not only supplied them with sleeping accommodation, hut offered them wharf labouring Work at ordinary rates. This was declined, from which ho argued that the men had 1m great desire to earn money.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS, GETTING MAHENO AWAY, By Teleeraph—Press Ataocifition-CopyrutfJ (Rcc. November 28, 0.30 am.,) Sydney, November £7. This Maheno is still lying in th(V stream, but having been cleared by tilt Customs authorities, expects to.sail direct for Awckknd by midnight, or in the early hours of the morning. Sins is a very, full ship as regards passengers. Some four hundred of them and their luggage were taken on board in lighters during the day, and also a big mail, numbering 25? bags, Iteticcnco is maintained regarding the constitution of the, crew which is described as n scratch one. It is under' stood that it includes some twenty officers and engineers from other Union Company's boats, while volunteers from amongst tho Orama's immigrants on board supplied firemen and greasers and a few- seamen. Tho Shipping Master wont on board at 5 p.m. and sworo in" the crew, but it was some hours fatcr before tho Customs Department granted the clearance. Tlio Jluheno is expected to make up twenty-four hours which she is behind on schedule time. Everything is quiet on the wharves, and no . attempt at interference lias boon made, though the crowd watched tho boats taking passengers' and mails on board.