SHIPPING TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1925, Page 3

SHIPPING TROUBLE.

[Australia A: -N.Z. Cable Association.] NEGOTIATIONS I’ROC EEDING. MELBOURNE. July Id. The .Maritime union officials stated to-day that they have been advised front Sydney that the Transport Group of Unions are now in negotiation with a big section of the ship-owners, mill that there is a prospect of a partial settlement.

They added that negotiations are proceeding with one ul the biggest. inler-Slate companies for a settlement on the basis of the agreement that was made with the Commonwealth line, and that an agreement has practically been reached.

The report is not confirmed. The Shipowners’ Association agreed to an eleventh-hour conference with the Seamen’s Union leaders. Ihe conference is now deliberating.

FEDER \ L CABINET DISCUSSION MELBOURNE. July Id. The Federal Cabinet is now sitting, and is considering the measures it will adopt lo meet ihe situation in the event of a strike. Mr Bruce (Premier) has declined io give any indication of I lie Federal Government's intentions, hut he said that while the Cabinet was prepared to meet and eventuality, il would refrain from taking any precipitate action which might have the elici t of extending the dispute. The Government will enter the light, lie say-, only wln-n essential servt ies regarded as vita! lo the welfare of the community are threatened.

There was no immediate intention, lie said, to suspend any sections ol the Navigation Act to enable oversea vessels to engage ill inter-Slate trade. Imt if the Australian shipping was pai alvsed. then hi- Gove iiinent will not lii-sifa!" to lift the hail now imposed upon tin* vessels that are noi upon I lie Aii-dralnm register.

rII the Federal House of Representatives. Mr \Y. Charlton (Labour header) moved the adjnunimeul of the House to discuss I lie shipping strike, lie said thal the time- had arrived when some definite action should be taken by the Prime .Minister. Mr Bruce, to settle ihe trouble. He had every reason for believing that if til ' parties were brought together, the mailers in dispute could he settled salislactorily. lie added that il the present state ol industrial turmoil existed "hen the American Fleet arrived there. there was no hope of the Admiral allowing the sailors ashore. The motion was lost on the voices.

11l the Senate. Senator Pearce moved the suspension ol the standing ordeis to permit the introduction of a Bill to amend the Navigation Act Io allow British steamers to carry passengers on the Australian coast in the event ol a complete and prolonged shipping hold tip. Labour solidly opposed the introduction. The debate is proceeding.

WATEISIDKRS TO CARRY ON SYDNEY. July I 5

A meeting of the Federal Executive of the Waterside W.-kers’ Federation lias decided that, until further notice, the members shall work cargo. MFI .HOUR NE. July 15.

The watci'idcrs here have been iusiructed to continue to work all the vessels until their cargoes arc discharged.

DISPUTE AT DUNEDIN. NEWCASTLE COAL THE TROUBLE DUNEDIN. July lA. Matters on the Dunedin waterfront '■cached a critical stage to-day. when 1 he shipping eimine n ies cnirerncrl • idml that no furl her calls ter labour will he made until the watersiders accept an engagement to discharge Newcastle coal from the steamer Kawalin. The vessels ou which labour was engaged earlier in the week, however, will be worked lo a finish, as the employers' ultimatum docs not lifted the mim so engaged. The vessels affected arc the Mauaka. which arrived on ’! nesday Irom Aic'sI ; ind Wellington and LyHollon with mmeral cargo. 120 ions of sugar, and a small quantity of fruit: Hie Holmdale and Breeze, which arc expected to-morrow, and the Kamo and the 1 ingress, due on Friday also probably the Ripa and Koiare. Calls were made to-dav tor labour to work the Kawalin at 7■ ”> a.m. and 1 o.m. and at •2.10 p.m. They elicited no further response. No furl her calls "ere made 'luring the afternoon.

The position has been acute for some weeks. The companies have been subjected to various demands for oxlra rates when certain tassels were to he worked.

The owners or their representatives are determiiiql to end the trouble one

wav or ft not her. IH'NKDIX. .Inly r». There is Mill In response lo the call for labour lor the Kawatin. now here six davs with a part cargo ol Ncwensle coal. The Union Company manager sales there is no intention of niakin.r calls for other ships until the Kawatiri is worked. The vessel was worked at Bluff at ordinary rates. As the result of flu' Company’s decision, .no call was mad.' to work the Wauauji. which arrived yesterday I rum •' 'lceland.

ST ATT-: Sill I’ITNG LINKS AIOOTKD

ULIMAEOA TIKI) UR

(Received this day at 8 a.m.)

SYDNEY. duly II

1 1 is semi-oflicinlly stated that uulo.ss tlu* shipping dispute* is settled ;i 1 mot immediately steps will lit* taken kv tlu* different Cuvoriiments to ensure a regular service liotwoen the States. At present live out ol the six States are under Labour (lOvernnients and if there is a general hold-up they will he compelled to take action. Ihe actual steps to he taken have not keen determined hut it is suggested the -hips tiiiirh he chartered temporarily or as the nucleus of permanent State owned shipping

SYDNEY, duly II

Mr Lang questioned said tliat not.liiiiK definite tins vet been decided am that co-operation between Lise State Cjin'niaii'iits would be necessary.

Nineteen members nl tlie crow ot the I'limaroa have handed in their notices, tint efforts to rel’laee them proved futile and the crew were paid off, the vessel hoin? laid up indefinitely.

The Seamen's I’nion meeting on Thursday will deride whether it will irrnnl immunity to owners appendin'; the guarantee clause to the articles. Messrs Walsh and Fleming favour lettinii the men work those shirs, hut Jrhannseti favours a general hit hi. embracing all Hues.

a yttkomo Aimer. i

LIARS AND TRICKSTERS

SYDNEY. July It

A sensation has heen caused a mono die maritime Unions hy an article published ill the official organ of the Federated Stewards Union at Melbourne. The article made a violent and vitrolic attack on certain unnamed officials of the Seamen's Union which il termed self-confes'sed liars and tricksters and suggested the seamen should apply for reregistration and advises them to change the leadership if they want to win. As the stewards have two representatives on the transport group the attack is likelv to he the main subject of controversy at tomorrow'.' meeting and likely to cause a serious split in the maritime unions. Volunteer crews wore secured for two N'orth Const steamers, and the vessels sailed manned hy members of the Merchant Service Guild. yards fu.it> OF COATSYDNEY. July M-

The coni output is being reduced as the railway yards are full of trucks, because ships are not available to shift the coal.

NAVIGATION ACT. MELBOURNE, July 15. The Senate read a first time Air Pearce’s Bill amending the Navigation Act.

SEAMENS STRIKE ENT ENDS. (Received this day at 11.25 a.m.) SYDNEY. July 10. The scope of the shipping dispute, has extended. I'ifty vessels, involving t"'eiit,v-five hundred men. aro idled in Sydney. Twenty-three vessels were affected yesterday. Grave fears regarding the already disastrous effect of the strike upon the. northern coal trade are expressed in colliery circles. At present twenty-two collieries arc idle, duo in thirteen cases to the tying up of steamers, and in three eases to a shortage of trucks. The watersiders decision to work all vessels includes those manned hv volunteer crews. This is regarded as indicative of the lack of sympathy between the rank and file of the AYatcrhjdei". Federation and the Seamens Union. AI EL BOURNE. July 15. Approximately two thousand watersiders "ill he affected during the next, few days by the tying up of steamers alreadv involved. An unusual means of defeating the refusal of the seamen to supply sfetrm for winches was adopted for unloading the C'oolann. Steam was raised from donkey engines on the wharf. Thus the engines could he worked by the watersiders themselves.

Inquiries among representatives ol overseas shiupine companies .revealed there was a dixmelinatiuii among agent sto take advantage of the proposed suspension ol the coastal clauses of the Navigation Act.