The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14th, 1925. THE SHIPPING TROUBLE IN AUSTRALIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14th, 1925. THE SHIPPING TROUBLE IN AUSTRALIA.

A t'STHA i.i.y is again suli'cring from .'strikes and disorganisation of its shipping. In Tasmania I here anhundred,s of holidaymakers and tourists stranded and unable to reach their homes and businesses on the island continent. It is not a question of wages «r conditions, says the •‘Spectator", just pure "eussedness.” There is

mure tluui n suspicion that these shipping troubles are the result of liolslievilc propaganda and money. If so, and we are inclined' to believe there is truth in it. it requires firm and even drastic treatment. When a nation is assailed by its sea communications being paralysed, the people Jiave a rip lit to expect the (Government, to rise in its might and smash the obstruction. We in New Zealand have twice shown how to deal with troubles of this kind. In Idid the watersiders refused to load the ships with produce. The men from the country came into town in battalions. ready for anything. The produce was soon oo hoard, and the strike fizzled out. Another strike during the National Government was firmly dealt with. It affected '‘the mosquito fleet” of small coastal steamers, all of which were tied up as fast as they arrived in Wellington. The then Minister of Marine patiently dealt with the matter. giving every opportunity for a settlement. 'When at last he found that there was a deliberate intention to stop the trade, lie took the drastic stop of allowing, vessels to go to sea without the specified crews required bv the Shipping ail'd Seamen Act, provided the Marine Department was satisfied the crews carried assured the safety of Llie ships. No sooner was this declaration made than there was a wild rush on the part of the strikers to get hack to their ships and save their jobs. A dose of this kind of medicine would he of service in Australia at present. There must he thou,sands of men on shore who do not belong to the Seamen’s I'riiiMi who would bo glad to get work on the vessels laid up. The starting of a dozen, steamers with free labour would lie a straight answer to the strikers and Bolshevik emissaries. It would end the Australian trouble in a week.