SHIPPING TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1925, Page 2

SHIPPING TROUBLE.

[Australia it X’.Z. Cable Association.] AT .MELBOURNE. f 1 mr rruce’s request. _ < MELBOURNE. Aug! 20. ' So far Air Bruce has received no replies to his request to the State Go- ' vernmeats for assistance in protecting 11011-strikers. The Alongolia has sailed with white * members of her crew. Mr Aloate (General Secretary of the Afarine Stewards Union) has received a cablegram from the President of the British Marine Cooks’ Stewards. Butchers’ and Bakers' Union, stating the strike of the British crews is not oltieially authorised bv the British Labour Alovement. Similar messages have been received by the officials of the Alelbournc Transport Unions. In a statement Air Aloate said the unions here could not take a stand against the official Trade l nion Movement. lie said he had also received a further message Irom Air Havelock Wilson, "herein the latter states the strike is unofficial in England, and is mostly confined to London. X’o vessels were delayed, hut the Communists were trying to extend the strike to other ports. Air Bruce (Premier) received a cable from Premier Hertzog. South Africa, asking for his assistance should the Seamen's Union declare South African ships black. POSITION AT SYDNEY. SENSATION IN ASSE.MBEY. SYDNEY, August 20. The State Solicitor-General was called in for a consultation at the Cabinet’s meeting in connection with the shipping strike. Subsequently, the Premier conferred with the Chief Secretary (who administers the Police Department), the Attorney-General, and the Alinister of Justice. As a result of these consultations, the State Government is maintaining an attitude of inactivity. The Ministers slate that the next move must come from the Federal Government. Premier Lang refused to make a statement as to the outcome of the day’s discussions, hut it is known that the disposition ol Ministers is to allow the Federal authorities to act without assistance from the State Government. The Commonwealth Solicitor-General, Sir Robert Garran, has arrived from Melbourne, lie lias interviewed -Mr Lang, the New South Wales Premier, in connect ion with the shipping strike. Subsequently the New South Males Cabinet was hurriedly summoned. it is unofficially stated that Sir B. Garran brought summonses against several Union leaders, to show cause why they should not he deported. At the Trade Unionists’ Mass Aleeting the British seamen passed a resolution sympathising with Mr Tom Walsh and Mr Johansen in view ol the threat of deportation, they declaring that such action would only strengthen the determination of the men to flight to a finish. Air Johansen, addressing the meeting. said that this was only one' particular strike, which may he billowed by many others. A mass meeting ol the Waterside Workers' Ecderalion lias decided lor the present not to take any part in the seamen's dispute, but to wateli developments. A proposal to strike a weekly levy to help the British seamen.was defeated by an overwhelming majority. In connection villi the seamen s strike. .Mr A rid ns caused a sensation in the Assembly by asking the Speaker to have lull enquiries made concernin': an allegation made over an incident which happened Ihe previous day, He said: “Will you enquire whether or nor it is a fact that two members now under a threat of an action under I a Federal law, Mr Tom Walsh and Mr Jacob Johnston, were in this House behind locked doors‘with a eertain Minister of the Crown?” Amid a loud uproar, Air Speaker said that he would not allow Mr Arkins to relied upon the Cabinet Ministers. Air Arkins thereupon added: “I want to know whether this House is to he ; made a sanctuary for those defying a ; law of the Commonwealth Parliament.” Mr Speaker disallowed the question. The Mouse continued seething with ; excitement as Air Arkins continued to press his question. Mr Arkins refused to obey the Speaker's order to him to resume his seat. ’ The Speaker thereupon ignored Arlans’ further attempts to speak. The House proceeded with the formal business. The House had then calmed down. In the Assembly, Mon Mr Willis, acknowledged that both Mr Tom Walsh and Air Johansen were with him in Parliament House. Mr M'illis said that he had felt it his duty as a member of the Ministry lo ascertain what was at the bottom of the present strike. Therefore, he had sent for Mr Walsh and ATr Johansen, and he had tendered certain views to them as individuals. SITUATION (JETTING SEKTOUS (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, Aug. 27. It is reliably .stated the Chitral will be declared bla-k in Adelaide or Fremantle. As she is carrying mails, probably idle will not call at these ports. MET,BOURNE. Aug. 2d. Mr Bruce is reticent concerning Air Garran's mission to Sydney, but it is understood lie went in a consultative capacity. BERTH. Aug. 26. The position is unchanged at llurbury pending communications with the South African Government over the Apoloa. The port is rapidly becoming congested as the result of the hold up owing to the threat of the wharf labourers to cease work, should the Apoloa he removed, from the wharf. IN ENGLAND. AX' EXPLANATION. LONDON, Aug. 20. Air Henson, interviewed, emphati-c-ally denied a statement circulated in Australia that Air Havelock Wilson agreed to the £1 a month wage reduction liehind the hick of the seamen. He also denied that another pound a month reduction is impending in Soptemlier. Tn detailing the history of the negotiations. Air Henson explained that the shipowners had agreed to an increase of one pound per month in September of last year in anticipation of improved freights. These anticipations were not realised. The shipowners had individually approached the Union this year, proposing reductions varying from two to four pounds. The Union had refused. Thereupon the individual proposals had l>een referred to the Shipowners’ Federation, and. after protracted negotiations. the shipowners had agreed to make one pound a month reduction. Then the matter was referred to the Maritime Board, where, it was considered by panels including seamen, firemen, and stewards respectively, by whom it was accepted. Subse-

qnently it was adopted by a delegate meeting representing seventy-two branches. The new agreement wero linding for a year, unless mutually arieil. 'Therefore the reported flicker reduction in September was a lyng canard. He said the mean-going rates wero ■iglity-four, per cent, above the precar rates whereas the cost, of living lad increased only by seventy-five per ■cut. Therefore the men were foureon per cent, better off than in prevar time thanks entirely to the efforts >f the Union, which represented ninev per cent, of the mnritme workers. The. Britishers’ wages on ships were low twice those paid to Continental . council, even after the recent reInotion. Vet. in Australia they were penalising the British ships, while not molesting the foreign ones. The reference to the allegation that the British seamen now in Australia have not been consulted. Mr Henson explained that there never were above twenty-five per cent, of tile ashore at the one time in Britain. 1 Therefore, the dependent branches represented the assent of seventv-fivo per cent of the men. This happened in 1 ‘>24, when a pound a month increase was granted. The Union’s total membership was seventy thousand, including twelve thousand stewards. Of the total members, sixty thousand were financial members. He said the shipowners had undertaken to restore the reduced pound when freights improved. The Australian strike was calculated to per- V ieusly delay an improvement. The Seamen’s Union Secretariat explained that Mr Havelock Wilson’s mission was arranged weeks ago for the purpose of a seamen’s convalescent home at Montreal and also of consulting the Seamen’s Unions in Canada and the United States, which are weaker than the British Union, with a view to strengthening them in co-operation with the British Unions. LONDON. August 25. The seamen’s Union state the position in London is now normal, but that the agitators have transferred their activities to Southampton, Glasgow and Liverpool, whore there are now numerous shills delayed, but none are held up. Three of the White Star Line’s Atlantic liners are affected at Liverpool. Their firemen are holding off, but as the stewards and seamen are signing on. however, it is expected the firemen will soon follow them. STRIKE SPREADS TO THE CAPE. LONDON, August. 20. It is unofficially stated that the seamen’s strike has spread to South Africa. According to a report the Sandgato Castle is held up at Durban. IN NEW ZEALAND. MORE MEN COME OUT AUCKLAND, August 20 The 11 oil in side’s men to-day resumed and their ship sailed. h is stated that the Hollinsidc’s crew resumed because the owners decided to concede the men’s request and that after the present charter has been completed men will lioc. have their wages reduced by L'l per month. At I o’clock the ilillinside sailed tor Nauru. CHRISTCHURCH, August 20. The trouble aiming the crews of tho steamers on British articles has spread to Lyttelton. This morning the crew of the Wltorornta notified the master that, unless the amount by which their wages were recently reduced, was restored, they would cease work. As the master of the ship was not able to grant tbeir demands without instruct ions from the bead office, tho men left tho ship. Tliere are about 111) men affected. 4 They returned to the ship to-night to sleep, but as the cooks and stewards. have also gone out. I bey will get no meals aboard.