SHIPPING DISPUTES

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1925, Page 3

SHIPPING DISPUTES

4IJSTRADIAN AND N.Z. OAIII.E ASSOCIATION MORE STEAMERS INVOLVED. SYDNEY. Jan. 5. No settlement has been reached in tin* i'limaroa dispute and the crew have been paid off. The steamer is now hung up indefinitely. At a meeting of the Sea Transport Group’of Unions, the delegates strongly criticised the Seamen’s Union demand regarding the picking up of crews. They’ characterised it as deliberately provocative, and, as productive of one intei'ixdlation only, namely, a suicidal desire to bring about a general shipping hold up. The Marine Engineers decided not to countenance the engaging of crews, otherwise than aboard the ships. It is also stated that the Merchant Service Guild will refuse to allow its members to engage crews by any other than the old system. The trouble with the Seamen’s Union has extended to the steamer Suva, which is doe to sail for Melbourne tonight. H. was found that the crow was several members short. The remainder will be paid off. and the vessel will be laid up. The owners are still unable to secure a crew for the Merimbula, and her sailing is indefinite!v postponed. MELBOURNE. Jan. o. The steamer Nairana, on the Mel-bourne-Launceston run, was three men short in her crew at the time when it should have sailed to-day. The owners decided to lay the ship up, and the crew were paid oil'. The Secretary of the Victorian Branch of the Seamen's Union, states that unless the owners accede to the seamen’s decision to pick up crews at the seamen’s head-quarters, all the steamers will he drawn into the dispute. .‘IS VESSELS LAID UR. SYDNEY, January 0. As the result of the seamen’s strike there are now 1 thirty-eight vessels of an aggregate tonnage of 1110,71 J laid up. The sea. transport group has decided to call upon all unions to co-operate actively against the Newcastle and Hunter River Steamship C’oy. FIGHT TO A FINISH. COMPLETE. SEXTENSION PROBABLE. MELBOURNE, January 0. Unless there is decisive action on the part of the Federal Ministry or intervention b.v the Arbitration Court, it appears certain that within a few days the inter-State shipping services will be completely suspended. The steamers Karoola. and Time are laid up owing to the shortage of crews. Seven hundred passengers from Karoola and Nirann are held up and probably this number will he considerably added to when the T.oongana arrives, as it is expected she also will be idled. There appears to be a determination on both sides to fight to a finish. Referring to the statement of Air Bratton that if the people of any State were seriously inconvenienced by the dislocation of the Tutor-State slopping services, the Federal Ministry mi'dit seriously consider the question of exercising its right of applying the exemption clauses of the X.uig.ilmn Act to permit overseas vessels carrying passengers between inter-State ports. Mr Bruce (Federal Premier') says that no action of the kind is <-‘U,te.nidated by the Federal Ministry.

l'N-SERY IC'EM EN'S UNION. SYDNEY. January <>. U the conclusion of the meeting of the Returned Soldiers' and Sailors Waterside Workers’ Union a statement was issued l.y a responsible official Who said that the union had definitely decided to establish its own picking up hoadc|uarei s. II ’t assistance from the shipping companies it will he called upon to supply much labour on Wednesday. It has requested the Cabinet to make available certain promises winch are '.leant. The Cabinet has been asked to take drastic action to prevent the federal Government interfering with the Preference Act. Ml returned members of Hie Eidt - ntion have been invited to join the union and they will he offered equal privileges with its own members.

FURTHER 1101,0 UPPERTH. .Tan. b. When the steamer Baron ARiohay arrived at Gage roads the crew ot the pilot boat refused to take the Pi •> out to her. The Mae Lay is the third vessel chartered by the Commonwealth line to arrive at Freemnntle Ihe pilot crew’s action is another breach ot the Melbourne agreement.