SHIPPING TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 September 1925, Page 3

SHIPPING TROUBLE.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association ' COURT ORDER OBEYED. HUT ItEEUSA L TO WORK. AUCKLAND, September 11. The cri'W o! tlie steamer Benicia, obeying an order of the Court, returned aboard yesterday, Imt declined te work. 'file crew of the Wairuna also returned aboard, but declined to take the steamer to sea although willing to maintain enough steam to prevent the refrigerated cargo being damaged. DIFFERENCE IN SKNTKNCKS. SYDNEY, September 11. Owing in the difference in the sentences on the striking seamen by two Magistrates, it is likely an appeal will be lodged in the eases of the more heavily sentenced men. APPEAL TO Ml! BRUCE. -MELBOURNE, September 11. General Hert-xog has made a further appeal to Mr Brine to assist to overcome the inconveniences caused by the South African (Government’s vessels being held up. Mr Bruce has replied the Commonwealth Government was using its utmost endeavour- to cope with the situation. Mr Bruce hits also received a cablegram from M.r Havelock Wilson, eoiignituhitiug him on hi- linn stand against the “ Beds." Mr Wilson ™ntiimes:—“lt. is true, in the interests of all decent British .seamen, yon should do so. I have devoted tilty years of my life to the British seamen’.cause and cannot tolerate the blacklegs destroying their position.” PLIGHT OF PASSENGERS. ADELAIDE, September 11. A deputation of passengers aboard the I’. and <>. liner. Balranald, held Up owing to the. -trike, waited on the Premier to ascertain whether the Government could do anything to assist them in getting to their destination. It was stated the steamer had been held up for three weeks. The position was becoming serious. Of five hundred passengers who arrived. 070 are third class travellers and these are still on the vessel. Many of them are entirely without means. The Company had offered i'i to each passenger for Melbourne, T2 for Sydney and i-'.'i tor Brisbane, but it cost considerably morv than that for them to obtain other transport.

The Premier, in replying, expressed bis sympathy with the unfortunate passengers and promised to get in touch with the authorities concerned to see what could ho done.

SYDNEY NEWS. SYDNEY. Sept. 11. After this afternoon's sensational arrest, the police kept it sharp eye on the Railway Refreshment Rooms, hut there were no further arrests. A large party of strikers hurriedly left the Railway Station with the object, they stated, ot dealing with the ship’s offieorH, resulting in their arrest. Ihe gang failed to lind their prey. and quietly passed the large 1 todies of police who have now assembled in the vicinity, apparently devoid ol all lighting spirit. Various points about tlie harbour, where the men may attempt to put oil* to the idle -hips, are now strongly picketed, the strikers apparently anticipating defections in their ranks. The conference of Labour Councils is still sitting. Finality is not expected before Monday. So far between forty and fifty men Imre relumed to the liner Orama. A further bn tell of strikers "ere sentenced to seven slay’s had labour.

- v coy. STOPS ALLOTMENTS. LONDON. Sept. 1.0. Hundreds of sailors’ homes arc affected by the decision of the I nion Castle Company not to pay any further allotments of wanes to the wives and dependants of the sailors striking in South Africa. The wives hitherto have received lids weekly out ol the men's wages. Meanwhile the Marine Workers’ Union is initiating a test ease, to see whether the ' shipping companies can legally reduce the wages ol their men at sea, who are already under articles. The Union alleges that the variation of the wages during the voyage is contrary to the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act. WELLINGTON PROSECUTIONS. WEiLLI N(lT< >N, Kept. 11. This morning at the Magistrate s Court, a number of seamen were prosecuted for unlawful absence from their ship, and for combining with other members of the crew so as to impede progress of tile voyage of the ship. Mr Orr Walker, S.M. was on tli«* Bench.

The first defndant was V. V. hangden, able seamen on the Aratvn, and this ease was taken as a test-. Counsel for defendants said that they were prepared to plead guilty to the first charge of being absent without leave if the other charges were withdrawn. This procedure had been followed in Auckland. Mr O'Leary said his instructionwere to press both charges irrespective of what had been done in Auckland. The inptain and chief officer gave evidence. The former said he assembled the crew and addressed them for ten minutes. Then he read a clause in the articles. Mr O’hea vy said that there had been a deni to combination of defendants to prevent the ship going to sea unless the demands were granted. His Worship said he had no doubt that an offence had been committed. Mr Toogood for the defence, said that defendants would formally plead guilty on the first charge, and in defence on the second charge it would he .submitted the strike was the only course the men had against what they deemed a grievance. Mr O’Leary said the defendants were the first men to start the strike, or give n lead in New Zealand, and should lie dealt with more severely than those at Auckland and New Plymouth. He asked for a sentence o! imprisonment on each defendant. The Magistrate said that if an effort had been made to go hack to work it would have been taken into consideration. but the men seemed determined to flout the law. On the first charge all the defendants would he convicted and ordered to forfeit a day's pay, as they had been absent without leave from August 25th. until the date of the information. They would also Ih* sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment with hard labour oil the first charges, and the same on the second charge, the sentences to he eoncurrent.

AT THE CAPE. 'CAPETOWN. Sent. 11. Threats that seamen will stop work if their pay is stopped have not so far been fullliled. The men are performing their ordinary duties. They state that, although they regard the stoppage of their pay as illegal, they da not intend to put themselves wrong bv refusing to work.

DEPORTATION OUESTION. SYDNEY. September 11. The Commonwealth Labour Councils to-day resumed their disjnssion pn the Deportation Act. The greatest

secrecy was preserved, hut it is known that the Council have sent a mossago to the Waterside Workers Federation, asking their delegate to attend.

No secret is now made of the lac that :m ugly situation lias dcvolopct and the delegates declare that tli slightest move affecting the trade ni: ion movement may precipitate crisis.

Alter hearing the evidence of the masters of several of the tied up British steamers, in relation to the events leadim; up to the men leaving the ships, and after many sharp flashes between the opposing counsel, the Deportation Board adjourned till Monday.

LABOUR I'll EM I El? ( ONCI LI A TOR SYDNEY, September 11.

It is considered likely that an at tempt, "ill be made to settle tlie .••“a men’s strike in a similar way to the adopted in the recent Australian ship ping crisis. Mr l.aiig. Premier o N.S.W. i, likely to be asked to act to negotiator between tbc strikers am tbc owner-. While the grcate-t secrecy is maintained it is extremely probable that a peace move "ill shortly he made.

A number of the Union leaders interviewed the Premier to-day. It iumlerstood they requested him to in tervenc.

CONSTABLE DRAWS REVOLVER SYDNEY. September 11.

A serious clash between strikers nml the police, the first since the strike began, occurred at. the Central Railway Station. The police bad planned a raid on the strikers while they were at the railway refreshment rooms, where the union had arranged that they he supplied with meals. While the strikers were waiting to ent‘-r tlie dining room, a detective Ilddeiily rushed at a man who fled along the platform. Another detective inined ill the eluise. The strikers then charged alter the detectives, shouting:— '‘Come on all! We "ill see him out of it.” Over one hundred strikers raced along the platform. Dozens more, just arriving joining in. By tlie time the mass o| the strikers armed at the road near the station, the detectives had captured the man. The crowd then charged, knocking the doled ives down and brutally kicking them. A violent struggle followed. When a uniformed policeman arrived he drew a revolver, and he ordered the crowd to stand back. Tlie detectives. although severely mauled, took the lean to the station, while the remainder ot the seamen were held ir cheek by the constable's revolver.

.MELBOURNE ARRESTS DELAYED MELBOURNE. September 11. The police have derided lo withhold the execution of 2.‘t,i warrants, as the seamen are scattered about the suburbs. Tlie Union bits agreed that the men will march to the police headquarter, >n Monday. The firemen and trimmers on the Matmiri have struck. The ketch Comet which is being purchased by a local syndicate for fishing purposes arrived from the north this morning. The little vessel was the centre of attraction at the wharf, and should prove handy for the object it view.