SHIPPING TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1925, Page 3

SHIPPING TROUBLE.

[Australia & X.Z. Cable Association.]

CREWS FOR TWO STEAMERS. SYDNEY. July 9. The crews for tbe Eromanga and Dirga of tbe Commonwealth Line signed on without difficulty and the vessels sail shortly. No further trouble is expected with this line. There has been no change in the dispute between the seamen and the interstate companies, bulb sides awaiting the texult of the Sydney Union delegates visit to Melbourne to interview the Steamship Owners Association. MELBOURNE. July 9. 'The Inter-State Steamship Owners' Association refused to hold a confe - once with the Union delegation from Sydney, hut allowed them to put their ease before the owners. Certain proposals were made by the Uiinn

and the owners then announced they would consider the proposals. hut would adhere to their previous decision and not participate in an agreement entered into by the CommoiiwenTth Line and Marine Transport Group. POSITION ON WA I PORT. GRKYMOI TTI. July 10. There was yesterday practically no change locally in the position relating to the stokehold dispute on the Union Company’s steamer A\ aipori. which is part loaded, and ready to sail for Sydney. The six firemen whom the company brought here on Tuesday from Wellington, with the object of replacing the ship’s original stokehold crew (all hut one of whom were imprisoned for refusing to sail without two trimmers) were yesterday waiting here for a definite reply Irom the Company regarding the demand for trimmers.

Tt was reporter! last evening that the conference at ’Wellington between the Seamen’s Union representatives and the shipowners proved resultless. OTHER DISPUTES. DUNEDIN. July 9. The steamer Opilii is delayed at Dunedin owing to the Port (lmlmers Waterside™ demanding an extra rate for clearing coal from the bilges. The employers offered the extra rate that had lieen paid previously for similar work at Port Chalmers:. The Disputes’ Committee met to-day hut no settlement was arrived at. No labour was to-day available to discharge coal from the collier Knwatiri. it is stated that a few men were available this morning. They demanded more than the award rate before commencing work. No labour however, was engaged. W VTKRSIDERS’ PROTEST. DUNEDIN, July 9. 1 The Dunedin Waterside Workers passed the following resolution to-day: ••That this Union of Dunedin Waterside Workers desires to record its sympathy with Comrade Noel Lyons, and, at the same time is filled with repugnance over the brutal sentence of nin? months’ hard labour passed on a man whose only offence lay in trying to improve the’standard of life for the men serving in the mercantile marine. The vitrilic lash of the law which lias flogged into durance vile an honest ninn

is typically characteristic of capitalist spleen, and, in this instance, the muchvaunted phrase “ British Fairplny and Justice ” has been prostituted beyond all recognition. The Union pledges itself to assist in every way any means of obtaining the release of Noel Lyons.”

NEWCASTLE RIVER COY

SYDNEY, July 10

Although the unions, whose members are employed at Morts Dock, have removed the black embargo from the Hunter, the dispute is not settled between the Union and the Newcastle River Coy. The present attitude of the Watersi dors' Federation and the Seamen’s Union,-is that all vessels of the company remain black until the Permanent and Casual Watorsiders' Union is abolished. It is learned the Government proposes to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the circumstances of this long standing dispute and that it will base legislation on the result of the inquiry. The steamer Iron Crown is laid up at Newcastle, having been unable to get a crew owing to the owners’ refusal to insert the guarantee cause in the articles.