AN ABOMINABLE ACT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 34, 3 November 1917, Page 7

AN ABOMINABLE ACT

UNION KEFUSES TO MAN HOSPITAL SHIP.

In the Federal House of Representatives on September 25 Mr. Greeno (N.S.W.) asked the Minister for the Navy (Mr. Cook) whether it was a fact that the Seamen's Union had refused a crew for a hospital ship in Sydney. Mr. Cook said that he was sorry that it was so. A crew had been refused for the ship. ' Mr. C'atts (N.S.W.): No reasons given? Mr. Cook: No Teasons had been given. The Seamen's Union had refused to provide a crew for the ship, and a crew was now being sought for by advertisement. He hoped that the good name of Australia would be upheld. Later Mr. Catts asked Mr. Cook whether there was not something in the administration of his Department in New South Wales which might possibly be the explanation of the refusal to man the hospital ship? • Mr. Cook replied that he knew no more than was contained in the follow-( ing telegram from the captain in charge at Sydney.— "Unable to provide crew hospital ship. Unions refused to man her. Am taking special steps by advertisement." That hospital ship, added Mr. Cook, should have left on her voyage yesterday, and she could not sail because the unions had refused to eivo her a crew. (Minis-1 terial cries of "Shame!") If ho were Mr. Catts he would not ask questions about an abominable thing l of that kind. There could be no excuse for it.

Later news stated that there was a splendid response to an application by the Naval Transport Office for volunteer seamen and firemen to man a hospital ship, following upon the notion of the Federated Seamen's and Firemen's Union in resolving that, its members should not sail on any ships leaving Sydney during the industrial trouble. This decision, it was stated, was contrary to a guarantee given that hospital ships would 'be fully manned. Apparently the members of the Seamen's and Firemen's Union came to tho conclusion during tho (lay that they had made a serious blunder in refusing to man a hospital ship, for a meeting was called with a view of rescinding the resolution. By this time, however, tho new crew had signed on. In all over 100 men applied, and about 50 were engaged.

When asked whether the union desired to make any explanation with regard to tho manning of hospital ships, an official at (he offices of the -uniou said: "We have nothing to' say one way or tho other at uresent. . The position is just the same ns it was a month ago. It now rests with the Government whether a settlement with the miners is arrived at. and our trouble will then be solved. If is claimed that the OSnvernmont have been able to carry on witli voluntarv labour. Surely they can do so now without our assistance."