SHIPPING DISPUTES

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1925, Page 3

SHIPPING DISPUTES

IDBTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION FURTHER. TROUBI-K. BRISBANE. January 28. A hitch has occurred over the picking up of crews, when tho men demanded to he paid for yesterday, though their services were not required till to-day. The owners declined to accede to the demand and. picking up was postponed until 10-day. MELBOURNE, January 28. Threats that further trouble is likely before the steamer Moeraki leaves Melbourne have been made in Union circles. It was definitely stated that upon the release of thirty-four men from gaol to-day, if the company attempted to man the Moeraki and Manuka with a similar compjeniont as the company previously desired tho Moeraki to sail with, the men would absolutely refuse to take the steamers to sea. COAL MINE STRIKE. MELBOURNE, Jan. 28.

It is believed a long fight is ahead before a settlement of tho AA’onthaggi State coal mine strike is reached. There lias been a great exodus of men from {Tie town lately. YTost of the stores have put their hands on half time, or allowed them extended holidays.

Two hundred Greeks who landed in Melbourne only a few weeks ago without capital are now practically on the verge of starvation, being unable to obtain employment. Tile Greek Consul has sent a. letter to the Tail’d Mayor directing attention to the plight of these men and asking bis assistance, the letter stated the men paid their own fares to Melbourne. ADELAIDE, January 28. No men so far have applied to mercantile marine office though vacancies for crews are posted there. Tt is statthat members of the l niou are not likely to attend the oti.ee. SIGNING ON SQUABBLES. (Received this day at 10.25 n.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 28. A hitch occurred in the signing oil of crews for various vessels, but it is not expected to prejudice a settlement of the trouble by two o'clock, the bom which has been fixed by the Court. About eight hundred-men were in attendance within and about. So great was the crowd that it was impossible for the officers seeking crews to pick them without being rushed by the Mailing men. Accordingly the picking up was carried out among the crowd as qnietlv as possible. Crews for eight vessels were picked up and the signing on of these men provoked trouble, although the award lays down the hours of picking up as lie tween two and three in the alteiuoon, and it places no restriction upon the time of signing on which is invariably within office hours. The men, however, placed nu interpretation upon the award that the signing on must be completed at three. Accordingly all tried to crush into the building at once and everything was hampered. As a result the men adjourned to a near-by hall where a member of the executive addressed them. He asserted that the picking up, according to the award, must he done in the shipping master's office and not in the thoroughfares nenrbv. He also told the men that the inadequacy of the accommodation for signing on would have to he considered by the

executive. . . The member of the executive advised all those picked up not to sign on before nine on Monday . pending a consultation. The result was that only one vessel obtained a crew, "he move is taken as demonstrating t,u fact that the seamen will take every irritating point within the award to impress the Court with their dissatisfaction of the ultimatum. Vessels are to he manned and despatched to N.Z. on Friday. With the apparent settlement- of the seamen’s strike and the return to port of normal working conditions, tlie struggle, between the AA ntersiders Ecderation and the. Returned Soldiers AVatersidors Exchange will be actively renewed. The management committee of the Federation has arrived from Melbourne to take charge of the matter, and it will meet the general body of the men- at a stop-work meeting during the morning,