SHIPPING TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 August 1925, Page 2

SHIPPING TROUBLE.

[Australia it N.Z. Cable Association.] L AT AUCKLAND. THREE CREWS COME OUT. * AUCKLAND, August 25. [ The strike of seamen engaged on British ships has extended to Auckland. It did so to-day, when the crews of three steamers, the Kent, the Benieia. and the 1 lollinside, all refused . duty. This action was taken in at- , cord a lice with the resolution passed at a meeting of the British on Monday evening. The total number of strikers on the three vessels is til. Two other British steamers in port, . the C’itv of Bombay and the Penitiorvnh. were not affected by the strike. Tho City of Bombay’s seamen are Lascars. with the exception of the three- , quarter masters and consequently the ship is not likely to ho drawn into the trouble, as the Lascars are on a different rate of pay. Ihe Poiimorvah’s crew have continued at work, although considerable pressure was used to persuade them not to join the strikers. 11l the morning a picket from the shore went into the Renmorvah's stokehold and spoke to the doiikeyiuau. A fight ensued. It is reported that the picket had the worst of tlio encounter, but he managed to regain the shore without being recognised by the officers of the vessel. To prevent any further trouble, a policeman was stationed on each of the live vessels concerned. The action of the ! lollinside’s crew in refusing duty came as a surprise, been use they are being paid the Ausiralan rate, which is half as much again as the British rale. The crew are on British article-, but when she was loading timlier at Banbury for New Zealand, about six weeks ago, the men struck for the Australian rate of wages, as they contended that the vessel was engaged in the intercolonial trade and they should he paid the inter-Colonial rates. The Hollinside was delayed for three days and, in order to prevent any further delay, the owners conceded the men’s demand. In consequence the pay of the deck hands went up from £lO 10s to CIO 2s fid per month, and that of stokehold hands from £ll to £lB 2s fid. It was understood that when the vessel completed her present charter the crew would revert to the pay rate ruling at the time on the British ships. The J lollinside completed the discharge of her timber cargo this afternoon, and she should have then sailed for Nauru Island, to load super-phosphates for A ust i - ii 1 ia. The I lillinside men’s refusal to work means that the vessel will he delayed indefinitely. To-morrow morning she will lie taken to anchorage in Ihe si ream where she will remain until the strike is settled. So far the cooks and stewards on this vessel have not joined the strikers, hut the looks have given the masters notice that, if the strikers’ meals are ' discontinued no food will he cooked for i the officers. The firemen on the Benicia and Penmorvah are Arabs, hut they are paid the same rate of wages as the white j men. The steamer Zina! which arrived from Nauru Island to-night and berthed at the King’s Wharf to discharge 780!) tons of phosphates. Q on British articles, hut she has bene engaged in the Nauru phosphates trade since last May. Her seamen number 21, hut' I it was not known what action they would take regarding the dispute. The steamer Maimyu is due to-mor-row from New York. She lias cast* oil and general merchandise for discharge i at New Zealand and Australian ports. I Her crew are on British articles. ‘ No action was taken against strikers • to-day. The fact that the men relused duty has heel) cabled to the ship owners . in England. - DEPORTATION' .PROCLAMATION*. MELBOURNE, August 25. The Federal Cabinet's new deportation proclamation in relation to the t English seamen’s strike provides that only persons from outside Australia . may he deported. I AUSTRALIAN SUPPORT. SYDNEY. August 2(1. A special meeting of the Stale C'ah- ’ i not- discussed the shipping strike, j without arriving at a decision. ; Although the overseas shipowners’ i representatives are meeting daily coni ceiled action has not yet been decided r on. ' The crews, who held up the stoam- ( ers. laid themselves open to prosecution for refusing duty or absenting themselves without leave, while attend , iMjg strike meetings, hut in view of the I numbers involved, action ol this kind >' is not contemplated. s Air Garden (Secretary of the Marine Transport Group) referring to the Den imitation Proclamation said threats of , imprisonment or deportation would not n I deter the union leaders from having . their monthly slopwork meeting, e The Australian Seamen’s Union des cided to support the British seamen in ) everv possible way. I hey also decided ' in the event of ail attempt to depoi't anv officials of the Seamen's l nion. that stop-work meetings should he eallr ed in every port of the ('ommoiiwealtl. s to consider what action should he tak--1 on to thwart the move. 1 MELBOURNE. August 25. j The Federal Cabinet are sitting considering the appointment <J a Deportation Board and what further action 1 will he taken. The Yictorian Seamen’s Union enr dorsed the action that the Sydney j branch is taking over the conduct of I the British seamen. The crew oT the Euripedes, after ; a meeting whereat they were addressed by memliers of the Union, decided to join the strikers, and the vessel is ' added to the idle list. 1 BRITISH STRIKE OYER. LONDON, August 25. Shipowners and seamen here arc i gratified at the reception of cables ■ from Mr Bruce (Federal Premier) pledging every effort to prevent illegal interference. The Secretariat of the Seamen’s i Union states that all the delayed British slops have sailed with lull union crews, none being now held up either in London or in the provinces.