SHIPPING TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1925, Page 2

SHIPPING TROUBLE.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] QUESTION OF DEPORTATION. SYDNEY, Aug. 27. The Premier of New South Wales. Air Lang, lias issued a statement defining the Government's attitude towards Air Bruce's request for the State’s co-operation with him in dealing with the shipping strike. Mr Lang said that when Air Bruce asked that protection he afforded to any seaman who desired to work the British vessels, lie (Mr Lang) was surprised at such a request, as there is not the slightest lawlessness in this State. Referring to the deportation clause in the Federal Immigration Act, Air Lang said that he regarded! it as one of the most iniquitous acts that had over boon passed in any country, and he would firmly refuse to permit the State instrumentalities to be abused foi the purpose of deporting any political or industrial loaders. 'I here was no need, lie said, for the Federal Government. in its pursuance of its deportation policy, to invoke the assistance of any State Government. He (Air Lang) had no desire to embroil New South Wales in any deportation proceedings. He was prepared to see that Laws of the Commonwealth and New South Wales shall be observed, but. ho was not prepared to identify New South Wales, or the Labour Party, with any Nationalist Party attempt to deport its political and industrial opponents. AIR BRUCE’S EXPLANATION. MELBOURNE, Aug. 27. It is unofficially stated that if no drastic action is taken, the shipping crisis may he overcome. Speaking at a. meeting of the Federal Nationalist. Party, Air Bruce said the present inaction was not due to any desire to hack down, hut to a reasonable desire to study the constitutional position, and the probable effects or any attempt to utilise the power conferred on the Government by the Immigration Act. He added that lie had not yet replied to Premier Hertzog’s cable. AVlien interviewed. Air Bruce refused to say whether a. Deportation Board luui yet been appointed, but it is known that the Cabinet, already has tentatively agreed to the personnel of such Board, but no announcement will be made until sum mo uses that have been left in Sydney by the Federal Solictor-General are served. AIFLBOUR.NF. Aug. 27. The Australian Railways Union have decided that, while the union are not concerned in the seamen’s .strike) the railway men would refuse to handle .in\ trains for the purpose of deporting unionists. TH E OWNER’S DECISION. LONDON. August 27. The shipowners have cabled to their respective agents in Australia, directing they must not yield to the seamen’s demands. AVELLIXGTOX, August 27. To-day’s cables contained an interview with Mr Henson, in which Air Henson “ denied statements circulated in Australia that Air Havelock Wilson had agreed to the reduction in wages behind the backs of the seamen, and that another reduction of 21 a month was pending in September." The following cable was received today by the Now Zealand representatives of the Overseas Shipping Companies. from their head offices in London: “ All rates of wages having been constitutionally fixed, in accordance with precedent, and through the National Maritime Hoard, which covers all grades of Briti-h seamen, through their accredited representatives, the British shipowners definitely decline t< concede the demands of the strikers.’ Speaking on behalf of the shipowners’ representatives to-night. Mr J. Findlay -tated tbai il would he gathered from the new cable that Ihe British shipowners will not recede from the stand they have taken up in regard to the demand of the strikers. Not only is the strike unauthorised, but it is also unconstitutional, and is a distinct breach of a definite agreement, made by the accredited representatives of the seamen and the shipowners.” Air Findlay went on to say: “The agreement, in regard to wages was reached by the Maritime Board, which, is a body comprising equal representation on the part of the seamen and i. e shipowners. The findings of the .Maritime Board have for the past few years resulted in harmonious relations between the shipowners and seamen, thus enabling the trade of the Empire to he earired on in an efficient manner. British trade supremacy, being dependent on co-operation of all classes. it is generally recognised at the present juncture that any interference with our transport must inevitably react to tlie detriment of all classes ol the community, both at Home and in ti:e Dominion.”

J AT AUCKLAND. 4 AUCKLAND, August 27. There appears to lie no sign oi a settlement of the seamen's strike on the British steamers at Auckland, although the trouble has not extended to other vessels than those already affected . The steamer Kent, which has been tinloading cargo irom Liverpool, is now definitely laid up in the stream, owing to the lack of a crew. Both sides in the dispute maintain a firm and uncompromising attitude, and the statements that wore issued by both parties to-day indicate that no efforts have been made in the direction of conciliation. AUCKLAND. August 27. Three overseas steamers, which arrived at Auckland, have not been affected by the dispute. They are .Mnimyo, the West Nivaria. and the Krviken. The .Mnimyo is the only vessel on which the crew are engaged on British articles, hut with the exception of 17 European officers, the crew numbering 7o is composed entirely of Lascars. The West Nivaria is an American boat, and the Krviken is a Norwegian boat. EXTENDS TO BLUFF. INVERCARGILL. August 27. Twenty-five men out of the crew of forty on the steamer Willnston at Bluff have refused duty, and are demanding the wages of duly last, and the vessel has been held up since Sunday. Fifteen men signed <ni under the New Zealand articles. They remain on duty. The strikers funds are running low. In anticipation of trouble, the Bluff police force lias been strengthened. The position as yet is quiet. AUCKLAND STRIKERS. AUCKLAND. Aug. 27. A meeting of about 100 British seamen was held to-night when consideration was given to the following cable, received from Mr Havelock Wilson. President of the National Seamen and Firemen’s Union of Great Britain and Ireland: “Strongly advise crews to carry on their duties, and to fulfil the agreement. Any grievances can be settled on their return by the National Maritime Board. Do not he led away, but Ik? loyal to your leaders!’’ After discussion the meeting carried the following resolution: “We, the members of the crews of British ships in the port of Auckland, emphatically

repudiate- Havelock Wilson and his traitorous betrayal. We furthor resolve not to recognise him as our leader, and to carry on our struggle for a living wage, namely, that no ships will he manned until we get an agreement that our wages will not be reduced.” An unexpe-ted change in the position is the decision of the Arab firemen on the Benicia to join hands with the strikers again. These men went out when the trouble originally started but they returned to duty on Wednesday morning. Since then they have again changed their minds, and they ret used to take orders. The attitude of the men on striko here wa.s exemplified in the afternoon i. the case of the Kent, which was timed to sail at noon for Wellington, ihe crew walked ashore, with the result that the vessel was sent to anchorage in the stream. ONE SHIR SAILS FROM. SYDNEY. SYDNEY, August 27. ■ A break in the strikers ranks was indicated by the sailing of the Blue Funnel liner " Autolveus,” which unexpectedly departed to-day for northera ports. The Overseas Shipping Representatives’ Association have been advised by the British shipowners that all rates of wages having been constitutionally fixed through the Maritime Board, British owners definitely decline to concede the strikers’ demands. -Mr P. Stokes (the Lord Alayor of Sydney) convened a public meeting for Monday next to discuss the seamen’s strike. Mr Tom Walsh interviewed the Premier, Air Lang, and discussed tho strike position. Air Lang has refused to make a statement' to the press. HAVELOCK WILSON’S CHARGE. LONDON. August 20. Air Havelock Wilson (head of tho English Seamen’s Union) from aboard the Empress of Scotland, ill the midAt'lanti'-, has sent a wireless messago to “The Tillies” for the trade unionists of Australia. Ho says:—“Fellow Trade Unionists, tho action of AVaksh and Johannseii in promoting trouble on Britsh ships in Australian ports is a non-unionist move, the object being to proniot;' Communistic principles. They are anxious to destroy trade unionism. Walsh is foolish enough to believe it possible to establish something near the Australian wages in the United Kingdom ports. This would Ik* possible hut for the low wages being paid in the foreign ships coming to British ports. It- is strange that Walsh and company do not try this game on the foreign ships, which are operating oil fifty per cent, lower wages than the British ships. Whilst, hundreds of our ships are idle, foreign ships are carrying sixty per vent- of our caroges. I trust, that Australian trade unionists will advise the British seamen not to he misled by AYalsli and Joliannsen’s: bunkum. Non-unionists, assisted hv Communists, in England, are the people who are making trouble. Thev are not. fighting for better wages; their policy is to got the union men out. of tho' ships, so as to. obtain tho men’s places and wages. I have dealt with such men and 1 know tlieir ways. . 1 mnuot he deceived. Trade Unionists have only to remember that- over fifty thousand union men have accepted the new rates. They see two foreign vessels loading in our ports every day for everv British ship, and hundreds of up-to-date Britiish ships idle, and thousands of British officers and men unemployed. It appears to me as though Walsh and company want to dcstrov British shipping. Who will care for our British seamen if Walsh and compaiiv accomplish tlieir object LONDON. August 20. Mr Catbary. the seamen’s General Secretary, in an interview, said he welcomed the announcement that. Air Tom AYalsh proposed to come to England purposing the smashing of the Wilson Union. He would not like to suggest that Walsh was making a virtlir„f necessi t v. like the coon who said “Don’t shoot 'Colonel! 1 will come down.’’ He gave Mr AYalsh credit for taking himself seriously, but if lie w ,I„re, l to tackle .Mr Havelock Wilson 0,1 Ills native heath, lie would get surprise “I his litc. Mr ('a diary admitted Mr Walsh - might detach some of the malcontents tv,,7,1 the Wilson Union, of whom there was a considerable percentage, as was inevitable in any organisation numbertug 70.009; hut he predicted a fiasco similar to the Southampton secession a Iq\v years a^o. He emphasised that tho present \va« r es agreement had not only been continued, firstly, by the Executive Council of the Union, and secondly by 72 branches, but also by the Ships Officers’ Union, representing the engineers, shipwrights and boiler-mak-ers.

STEAMERS HELD UR. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) CAPETOWN, Aug. 27. Three steamercs are reported held up at Durban, including the mail boat Balmoral Castle, owing to the refusal of the men to sail at the reduced scale wages. Unless a settlement is readied there is a. prospect of a general strike of seamen. Tlie situation is serious owing to the fact that this is the middle of the maize season and largo cargoes are awaiting shipment and the harbour accommodation, both at Durban and Capetown is fully taxed. UNIONS CONFERRING(Received this day at 8 a.mA SYDNEY, Aug. 27. Representatives of all unions affiliated with the Labour Council are conferring to define the inattitudo to the seamen’s strike. At tho last hour it had not passed a resolution. Tho President of the Waterside Workers’ Association addressing the Conference, said his union would not take action until they had seen what other unions were doing. INDUSTRIES PARALYSED. BRISBANE, Aug. 27. Many industries are l>oiiig paralysed t!i rough the railway strike. Rockhampton men. after deciding to strike granted permission to a number of railway workers to remain on the railways in order to enable those running, to return to their heme depot. The Disputes Committee passed a resolution declaring black all goods on railway property from midnight. The effect of the strike in the north wil 1 Ik- severe. The sugar mills in the Unier Burdckin district will lie compelled to cease crushing, as tho storage fa: ilites are exhausted.