SHIPPING TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1925, Page 3

SHIPPING TROUBLE

[Australia it N.Z. Cable Association.] AN OPTIMISTIC VIEW. STRIKE NOT OK LONG DURATION. WELLINGTON, July LI. A passenger who arrived from Australia to-day states that the shipping strike there is not likely to last long as the unions are without funds. The seamen and firemen have been so harried In- their leaders for months past that they themselves, as well as their unions, are very hard tip, as they had had only intermittent employment and no strike pay. They can get no support from the Miners’ Union, while the Australian Workers’ Union, which lias ; i fund of about C 210.1100. is unlikely to afford assistance. The owners at last are absolutely united and ready to light. It is uncertain whether the New Zealand Steamship Company will he involved, hut the probability is they will not be. The general opinion in Australia a few days ago was that the strike would not hist long.

TROUBLE AT DUNEDIN. DUNEDIN. July 10.

A complete deadlock continues on the Dunedin waterfront the tneu declining to work the Kawatiri (wit!: Newcastle coal), and the employers refusing to engage any labour whatsoever for other ships until this is done.

The coastal, vessels Helmdale, Progress. Kota re and Kamo will augment the idle licet to-morrow, through the. detention of all vessels until the Txnwatiri is started upon. The companies are sustaining a. loss running into hundreds or pounds. The berthage cost is comparatively small as compared with the general expenses of which the wages to the officers and crew form no mean part, and t lll- loss of earning power is to

be considered. The number of waterfront workers now unemployed at Dunedin is estimated to be in the vicinity of -100. though very few are to be observed about the wharves.

HOLD-UP OF COAL TUADE. SYDNEY. July 16

The chairman of the Northern Colliery Association states that within a week 7.1 per cent, of the collieries in the Northern Field will be rendered idle as the result of the shipping holdup. MELBOURNE. July IG. The Shipping Companies have appealed to the consumers of coal to use every economy in the consumption of coal, as the shipping strike has stopped the usual supplies. The companies, however, guarantee to supply regular customers with the average daily quantity. A deputation from the Melbourne Disputes Committee asked the Steamship Owners' Association whether there were some basis on which negotiations could proceed. The owners state that guarantees that agreements would be honoured conie from seamen, and they insist on effective guarantees from the seamen against job control. This reply was communicated to the marine transport group id unions at stvdnev. SVDNEV. July lfi. The New South Wales Coastal Steamship Owners' Association have decided to advertise for crews to man all ihe coastal vessels. 711 VESSELS IDLE. EFFECT ON BRICKS AND* EMPLOYMENT. SYDNEY. July 17. A meeting "f the seamen attended hv seven hundred agreed that all 'teamers trailing on the Australian • ■oast except the Commonwealth bine, 'ball forthwith come under the ban of the private owners who agreed to insert the disputed clause in their articles and they will not he exempt. Mr 'Walsh outlined the interpretation of the resolution of the Executive to ecu so work on till ships unless the clause was granted. After this the Chairman announced that there was m purpose to he served by prolonging the meeting and the proceedings terinina-ii-d without the motion ratifying tho ruling of the Executive being put. The Tr ansport group met in camera but it was learned their deliberationwere centred upon a telegram alleged to have been received from the Steamship Owners Association in Melbourne offering a further conference with the seamen alone and suggesting that the guarantees of the .seamen ol no jobcontrol might be accepted. It is stated the group thereupon telegraphed the owners asking them to lix a dips ini tile conference. Representatives of the owners at Svtlnev are seepticnl about the report and incline to the heliet that it emanated from the Melbourne Trades Hall Council, being probably an inspired one of the Executive of the Seamen s Union. It appears unlikely the deadlock will he overcome by the employment of overseas steamers in the Inter-State wade as the overseas owners will not avail themselves of the right coneed•d by the Federal Parliament. Seventeen more steamers at Sydney were affected to-day, bringing the number out of commission at Syilnex to Miirty-nine. Now seventy-tlnfee ves'ols are tied up in Australian ports. There are 2.11)1) employees idle in Sydney as a result of the hold up. Foodstuffs front other States have advanced in prices. A special meeting of the State Cabinet considered the position, but no announcement, was made public. SUGAR INDUSTRY AFFECTED. (Received this day at .10.0 n.m.) BRISBANE. .July 17. Owing to the shipping strike the Maryborough Sugar Coy has postpone! the commencement ol crushing. Many men in the district are waiting for the '■rushing season to ■-tart. MORE HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. MELBOURNE. July 1,. \ more hopeful aspect in the Shinning trouble ha- dew by tho announcement of Mr E. Holloiva.v. Secretiirv of tin’ Disputes Committee, to the Trades llall Council, that a settlement could he expected by the end <d the week The committee had several consultations with the ship owners. The position at present was very uelic ate and he could .not enlarge on u.