SHIPPING STRIKE DEVELOPS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 204, 23 May 1919, Page 7

SHIPPING STRIKE DEVELOPS

GOVERNMENT ORDERS A COMPULSORY BALLOT NON-UNIONISTS BESET--BY STRIKERS ~ NEW ZEALAND TRAFFIC: NOT AFFECTED', By TelceraDh-PrcES Association-rOoprtfeht Sydney,- Mny 22. The crews of six vessels, including ono oversea ship, have givou twenty-four hours' notice of their intention to leave J the vessels. ' ■ ■ -". -■ ; The waterside workers have not yot discussed the position, tmt resent tho action of the seamen in precipitating the tiouble. The coastal 'steamship owners are refiucsliriß the Minister of Labour, under the Arbitration Act, to take a- compulsory, secret ballot of aeanion, .to.ascertain whether tho majority fir.i-nr a strike, as they believe the nioii will vote overwhelmingly against it.—Press Assn. CONFLICTS WITH NON-UNIONISTS. Melbourne, May 22. Thcro havo been several conllicts on the wharves between unionists and nonunionists, and several ot the latter were iuiured. After much disorder the unionifib drove the nou-unionists" from thn north wharf, causing a stoppage of work on cwo steamers. - Returned soldier unionists decided to discontinue working on tho wharves with non-unioni6t6.— i'ress Assn.' • COMPULSORY BALLOT ORDERED •■ NEW ZEALAND STEAMERS NOT' AFFECTED. . .;■ (Rec. May 22, 9.55 p.m.) ■, Sydney, May 12. Matters in' connection with the eliip-

ping trouble are quiet. The chief development is that the State Government, at the request of the coastal steamship' owners, has ordered a compulsory ballot of the members' of' the Seamen's Union under the powers conferred by the Arbitration Act, to ascertain if the majority favour the strike.

Representatives of the shipowners and seamen received summonses . to-day to attend the compulsory conference called bv the Federal Arbitration Court, to be held at Melbourne on Monday.

As the coastal vessels reach their vari. ous home ports in Queensland, New South Wales, nnd. Victoria, their crew* leave. Many.vessels are already tied up.

It is stated that so far as the Union Company's steamers are concerned only individual members, of the crews left the ships in Sydney, which is not the 'home port of air of them. It is also stated that it is not expected that there will be any trouble regarding the NewZealand steamers.—Press Assn.