MAKURA HOLD-UP

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 85, 4 January 1919, Page 7

MAKURA HOLD-UP

."' ■'.-. ..'-■''' ■' r SEAMEN GIVE NOTICE TO LEAVE PLIGHT OF NEW ZEALANDERS By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyrielit , .•' ■.■".. .... .'. Sydney, January. 3. ..'■'. The seamen of 'tha Makura have given notice to the Union Company that they :intend to leave. The ehip's- crew has been paid off, and,"her sailing is postponed indefinitely. .The mails have been transferred to the Ventura. The owners of the Durhnin have been besieged by New Zealanders, and there are three or four applicants for each available .berth. There is tangible,ev.idence that the uew . phase of the trouble has little connection'iWith the influenza pretest- The men have stated that their discontent is based on the non-pnyuient of war bonuses,- the 'withholding of compensation to men who ' have lost effects in tounedoed vessels, and : the , recent' n'ward, which granted only slight increases in wages. , ' ••■ Remarkable . scenes . vrero witnessed- in. .the , New Zealand Government ofhcei when : 200 people'crowded into a email room clriinoiuilig to return to the Dominion, end shouting protests agninst •the ' Union Company and the seamen, Inter it was announced that the company would refund their pnssage-money to those whohavo secured berths on. - other 'vessels.—Press 'Assn. ')) c A GENERAIHOID-DP NO PRDSPECT OF.EAELY SETTLE- ■ '■'•. . , \;MENT. (Rec. January 3, 0.15 p.m.) ,' Sydney, January 3. , | The vessels laid up include the Atua,' Makura, Moeraki, Maniißa, Eakanoa, and a number of cargo carriers. The Union Company is refunding the fares." There' is no prospect of ail early settlement.—; Press,Assn. ... . NEW FBDERAtIo¥Tn AUSTRALIA 'At , ..a recent meeting at the, Sydney Trades Hall of waterside workers and men. employed oh ships, it was decided to'form a Transport Workers' federation. The new organisation (as briefly cabled some days ago) -will embrace uriionc with a totril'.membership of over 42,000. Various meetings have been held during the past twelve months by union leaders connected >ith the waterfront, and a: decision has now been 'arrived at. , The unions in. the new organisation; inijlude:— ■ .' '• •■■ ■ The federated. Ship'. Painters ,4nd • Dockers".Unioti. ■"'■'■ • - The Waterside WorKere' Federation.■; ■ The Federated Seamen's Union, '•. -■ .The' Federated Cartere and Drivers. The Federated' -Marine Stewards and Pantrymen. ■ ■ ' . ' •''':, •Marine Cooks,- Butchers and Bakers. ■ Newcastle Coal-Trimmere! Aseociation. ' The federation covers', all' workers, in the above groups: throughout-the Com> mo.nwettlth. The .the, new, 'organisation ,is as follows:— ■ .' ■'■ . :■-• • "Whereas the ■various organisations of. transport workers are continually liable to be: involved 'in industrial disputes originated by other organisations but.being .in.-any. way. consulted or having :the opportunity of expressing .an, opinion upon the merite of the dispute or of: what course of action might be best calculated to bring'about a settlement of feeling : to.secure> victory for the organisation affected.;. .'■ i • ~-'' •-.■;. ' '"And whereas it is clearly inconsistent with the fundamental system of union-' . ism'that ; a'emoll. minority, of;.the unions should . precipitate a .struggle ■ involving the whole of the industrialorgariisations without these being consulted, and; since action by' sectional'-'unionism is in'the present development of industrial union.ism doomed to failure; ..-. : \ ; "Therefore the ..various organised sections •of the" 7 transport workers have agreed to join forces' for their mutual protection'and the promotion of. the ■■ welfare and benefit ;of unionism, general- . ly,-and to form a>l'raneport .Workers Federation." r. .."■" ' ' ..-..'. .'■' Gerierally.it is olaimed by those responsible that "the new federation vill be ine' means of lessening strikes...- No one sec'tiori; -.it is asserted.' can • take action /without firstuCpnsulting the executive' ot the;federation.': ■'..>-.■■ ;. .:•■' -The Cool Lumpers' Union has not yet joined forces with the new organisation,' but it is-stated that that (body is seriously considering; the matter. ' 'The new organisation, it is. explained' ■by-those at its head, is , .not.connected with the One" Big' Union echepie. It is entirely on'-ite own, and vill, it: is stated, be : controlled by many old hands in the. Labour movement.. '.'