SHIPPING TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1925, Page 2

SHIPPING TROUBLE.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] SYD NK V SENSA TJO N. A POLICE PAID. SYDNEY Sept. 0. Wat rants have been issued lor the arrest of SB of the strikers. The polite visited the Communist Hall, whit h is the strikers’ headquarters. this morning, and they warned tile strikers that arrests would shortly t„. made. also saying that they did not want trouble, and asking the men to go quietly. The puln't- then deferred their action till tilt- afternoon, to allow the men to attend the funeral ct one of then number, who died in the hospital. Alter the funeral, the police returned to the Hall to exercise the war-

rants. The strikers' committee and the poise agreed that the names ol the seamen. who were to lie served with warrants should he announced at a special meeting at the Communist Hall, and these those who answered their name.' would submit quietly to arrest. The police waited patiently outside the Hall, while the names of the seamen were called. None- <-! them tesponded. anil the police then depat teil. A sensation came late in the afternoon. The police suddenly jumped from trams and spread aer, ss the street. Each seaman, as lie- cattle along, was questioned individually, and had to produ. e an identification card. The police announced that they would not he baulked, and that they won- determined to make the arrests. The traffic was congested while the police accompanied by officers Irom Unships. endeavoured to identify the moinlkm's ot the various crows. Many of the strikers disappeared asoon as the police arrived. Then police and plain clothes men dashed upstairs to the Communist Hall, where n meeting of the seamen from the drama wa- being held in ramera. the polo c were powerless here, however, as warrants so far. have not keen i"Ui-d acaiiist the new ot this vessel.

l ater on. polin' reinforcements arrived outside the hall, where a crowd of a thousand seamen wen eon-gregati-d. It was decided that Gi< strikers he given one more opportunity to answer their names, and many of them entered the hall. I here thc\ were addressed by Tom Walsh hut still then- was mi response when the names were called.

The whole neighbourhood was now scothileg with excitement and crowd' continued t > gather from all quarters. Mr dock Garden calm- to the Melt' of the hall and amiotimi-d he would not allow the police to enter assorting that they would have to ohtaii search warrants.

Alter a chase the police effected oni arrest. After the meeting Tom Walsh stated that the police had mad, themselves unusually busy on behalf of tin- master classes. They had on to roe the Communist Hall without search warrants, and he had yet to learn from the Labour Minister that police could invade private premises without search warrants to search for recalcitrant seamen. Despite the cflrrts ol pickets a eoiisidi-rahle number of titer hoarded tin- Grama. This vessel wil probably he till- next i«, leave. M F.l.liOr H NK. Prpt. 0. Warrants for tile nrrc~t of 107 sinking seamen have been i»ued. Another batch ol 221 wdl he issue, to-niorrow. STRIKERS l-TNKI) AND GAOLED. ADEt.A IDE. Sept, fh Sixty-four .seamen and tireim-n Iron tin- Atcaniux Were charged with disobeying orders. I hey were sentence, to fourteen days’ imprisonment, and tilled C2 each, to he deducted froti their wages.

At'CK LAND I’ROSEf 1 "I'loNS. AUCKLAND. Sept-. 0

A ease with an important hearing on the position of the ,-onmen on the British ships in New Zealand waters, who are on strike on account ot the reduet ion of their wages, was decided at the Police Court, to-day. The master of the Benicia proceeded against eight seamen for being absent without leave, and for combining with others to delay the voyage of the vessel. The Letter charge was withdrawn. The defendants, with one exception, pleaded guilty to the lifst charge. In one case where a. plea of “not guilty" was entered, evidence was given. The defendant was convicted. The. Magistrate. Mr Cutteu. said that- counsel for the defence had admitted the offences were committed in the course of the strike. That, however. mis a matter with which the Cctirt would have nothing to do. The defendants would he dealt with in the same way as an individual offender who absented himself from work, as these men had done, with regard to other matters. In addition t.> the |X‘iialty imposed in the Merchant Shipping Act the prosecution had asked for an order that the men he put aboard the ship. He would make that order, and would order the deli mbtnl- to forfeit five -hillings for each day away from the ships, making £2 los in seven eases and £2 10s in the other. The decision resulted in a demonstration at the Inn k of the Court. One of the defendants said he had no intention of going hark t>> the ship. Ilis remark 'tits greeted with a stilled “11 Uriah' ' from his colloai'iies.

LONDON POSITION PE AC’A RLE. LONDON. Sent, 3. The Seamen's Cniun reports that every British steamship has sailed Mine luully with a full crew, and Cardiff reports that everything is as peaceable as on Sunday. At the Trades I'ninn ('tingle-- thetv was received a report, to i cl t hat elicits to amalgamate the Sailors' and Firemen'' I'ninn and the Marine Workers' I'ninn hail broken down. Mr Shinwell dei hired the report to ha a shameful anti-trade union document . He said: "We have been .striving for fifteen years against the autocratic, anti-trade union actions el that notorious react binary. Havelock Wilson.'' AT TI I L CAPE. CAPETOWN. Sc pi. 0. A specially-chartered fruit ship, the

Roman Star, carrying one hundred thousand eases of oranges, and the maize-laden steamer Gothaland, got away from here with toll crews, timid hostile cries from the strikers, who wen- particularly angry because of the Gotlialalid’s signal to the ht-ld-up Sophocles: “Good-bye Gays I Better luck next time Hn-i. Mr Crosswell (Labour Minister) addressed the strikers at tho docks, anil visited the ships in the harbour, appealing to the iiii-u to allow the Roman Star to sail. A ballot was then taken, which was unfavourable to permitting her to sail.' Alter the ballot, eight of the Gothalaiul's new left the steamer lint ten volunteers reported to tho captain's appeal enabling her to sail. lion. Mr Cressweil has issued a statement, embodying a suggestion to the shipowners, as a possible basis for a settlement. This provides tor the postponement, of the reduction in wages for six months, pending an official inquire ill Britain into the exitsing machinery for the representation ot the seamen on the Maritime Board, a,„|. if necessary, as to an aiteraiion lit the constitutions of the Seamen s c,lions. SO as to provide for adequate

ivprOMMitatinit. t An official notice will he pasted on all ships here to-morrow giving the ,111-11 twenty tour hours to oln\v orders. Otherwise strong action will l>e taken. 11l t«li<* event of the men obeying it is guaranteed that there will he no victimisation. . , Mr Huns, a Cabinet Minister .sjxaui„g at l-retoria. blamed the ship-owners for causing the strike. He said the lesson taught to South Africa was that of having State shipping.

FEDERAL PREMIERS APPEAL

DESTROY THE VIPER. .Received this day at S a.m.) MELBOURNE. September 0. Speaking at Dandenong. the principal ,entresol his electorate. Mr Bruce said he was there because he lelt that there were some things it was essential that a Prime Minister should say to tin- people of Australia w hat lie believed was a very critical hour in their national history. Mr Bnu-e proposed to deal with tho vital issues confronting them in an absolutely impartial manner. “ Unhappily.'’ he said. “ there are in our midst those who would undermine our democratic system, of Government and destroy ali the great constitutional principles we held most dear. They would have us accept the pernicious doctrine of Communism and would foist upon us the same oligarchic lot til Ol Government which brought ruin and disaster to Russia. These things arc repugnant to our national ideals and I appeal to my fellow citizens to assist me in destroying this viper which has raised its head in our midst.” Mr Bruce then referred to the malign hatred shown the British Empire by Russia and went on: “ Wherever there is strife, national or industrial. the paid agents of Bolshevism will he found. 'Unfortunately, in Australia, wo have not escaped them. There are leaders of Labour in our midst who not only believe in the hideous doctrines of Bolshevism, but glory in expounding tin-in. Recently, Mr Garden. Secretary of the Syilney Trades and Labour Council, at the, (.-onlerem-e of the Third .International© at Moscow, said: ••Although the Australian. Communist party is small, t lielk-ve it has found the key-note as far as the Anglo-Saxon movement is eoneenii’d.” Continuing Mr Bruce said: “ the Communist Party in Australia has a. membership of nearly one thousand and vet is able to direct close on four hundred thousand, including 237,000 in New South Wales, all the organised, workers, and 11 .000 workers in Queensland." Mi- Bruce went on to say the Communist Bartv hail full control ot tho executive of the Labour Cmtfieil of New South Wales, directing the policy of 120 unions. The time had now arrived when the Government must take action to protect the people of Australia and protect trade unionism from betrayal hv it- own leaders. Mr Bruce asked: "Can anyone challenge the right of the country to expel an emissary ol an organisation who objective is to bring ruin and chaos upon the country whose hospitality In* is enjoying!'" Mr Bruce denied the Deportation Art would he used for deporting legitimate trades union leaders, and said:

" l’nfort mutely, although the measure was designed to help the Labour movement. it has been bitterly opposed by it and pposition has even been carried hy a State Premier to the point of refusing to afford the Commonwealth the assistance of State instrumentalities in carrying out the Commonwealth law. Such an attitude was impossible and would inevitably lend to a position which could not possible he tolerated."

Mr Bruce trusted that wiser counsels would prevail and Mr Lan,g (N.S'.W. Premier) recede from his present position. Mr Bruce believed that the pcupile were resolved that law and order should he maintained and that they looked to Him. to see that these things were accomplished. Ho would not hesitate to carry out the task entrusted to him and would not hesitate at any time to appeal tho people for an endorsement of it is actions.

SEAMEN SAY " BETRAYED.” (Received this day at S a. in.) LONDON, Septemlter 0. The seamen’s strike committee, having tailed to receive a hearing at Scarbiuinigh, has issued a circular pointing out the rank and tile had not been consulted about the reduction and describing Mr Havelock Wilson as a betrayer of the seamen. The circular also stated that Mr Wilson had betrayed the whole trado union movement and smashed tho unity of the working class movement by retreating in face of a ferocious attack. "We believe.” the circular concludes, “ his decision was arrived at in conjunction with the shipping companies.”