SHIPPING TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1919, Page 3

SHIPPING TROUBLE.

(Australia < p - N.Z. Cable Association.)

PREPARATIONS FOR STRUGGLE. SYDNEY, This Day. Tlie Amalgamated Engineers, employed on the railways are demanding increased -wages. Grocery employees are making the same demand with a threat

that if it is not granted, twenty-four hours notice of a strike will bo given. The ways and means committee, appointed by the Broken Hill Strikers, has sent circulars to various organisations in Australia and New Zealand, announcing the miners at Broken Hill had decided to strike to obtain conditions to enable them to live as human beings. The principal demands are a' six hours day, a five days week, abolition of night shifts, and contracts, com 1 pensation for occupational disease and a living wage. It is anticipated the struggle will last for some months. The Watersiders are holding a mass meeting to-day to discuss the strike situation. |

The crews of all interstate coastal vessels arriving yesterday, gave notice. MELBOURNE, May 24.

. The strike has spread to the wheat stacks at Brooklyn, where the Unionists drove the loyalists from the yarcls. All work, including the shipment of wheat for the Imperial Government, is suspended. The policy of terrorism is spreading. Three more loyalists were severely handled and the homes of

several others were attacked. One bun dred special constables have been sworn in.

The Federal President of the Returned Soldiers’ and Sailors’ League has sent a message to members, emphasising the necessity of abstaining from active participation in any industrial dispute, and calling on members to support the constitutional authority in maintaining law and order.

THE STRIKE SPREADS. SYDNEY, May 25,

Matters relating to shipping trouble are quite pending to-morrow’s compul. sory conference at Melbourne. The ships’ crews here continue to leave the vessels as their notices expire. The whole coastal trade is coming to a standstill.

The tying up of the colliers threatens serious interference with the dispatch of oversea ships.

STRIKE RESULTS. (Received this day at 9.25 a.' -i.) SYDNEY, This Day,

Unless there is a quick settlement of strike, the coal position at all Australian ports a,nd elsewhere will be very serious. Already the shortage is severely felt, and by the middle of next week, failing relief, must result in the closing of many industries and idling of thousands of employees.

Up to Saturday it is estimated four thousand are directly and indirectly involved in the strike in Melbourne.

Meantime vast quantities of cargo are piling up on the wharves of the various ports awaiting shipment.