SHIPPING TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1925, Page 3

SHIPPING TROUBLE.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association A I.OYAI. ( R EW. SYDNEY, September IS. The ISluc Funnel steamer Automedo has arrived. The crew is loyal and th wharf labourers are working file eargi 'Hie Port Hobart is unable to sec lire labour, the wliarl labourers adhei itig to the decision to declare the vessel black. So far 210 strikers have been senteii ced hut OSL warrants are still not sei ved. DEPORTATION HOARD. SYDNEY. September IS. The Deportation Hoard has adjourn ed to consider the <|iiestion of allow in; .Mr Lamb to sidmut evidence attains Walsh, in connection with tiie eoiivitions recorded against Walsh in \ ie toria in 191!) for industrial olfences.

PASSENGERS AHRIV K. .MELBOURNE, September IS. Three hundred and twenty-three passengers from the steamer Ualranald arrived hv special train trom Adelaide, which was chartered by the shipping company. ADELAIDE, Septenilier is. 'Lhere are now 174 striking seamen in gaol. The Government has decided to remit the Court fees in connection with the lines imposed on them, considering the costs allowed were excessive. Despite the decision of the Sydney waterxidyrs to dec-hire the steamer Lycaon black, wharf labourers continued working the vessel. LABOUR'S UNSCRUPULOUS ENEMIES. SYDNEY, September 14 M.r Lang, in a statement repudiating the- connection of the* Lulhuii’ Party with the Communists states both he and .Mr Charlton regard the Communists as Labour’s most • unscrupulous enemies, and are lighting them tit. all times.

WATERS IDEILS’ MA XI E ESTO. SYDNEY, September IS. The Federal Committee of the Waterside.- Workers’ Federation of Australia has issued a manifesto stating the committee affirmed the right ol every trade unionist to resent wage reduc-

tions, or tin attack upon working conditions by employers. They viewed with disgust the action of Havelock Wilson in appealing to the Capitalist Governments throughout the world to bludgeon members of his union into accepting the reduced wages. The Waterside Workers’ Federation, therefore, decided to assist the British seamen to obtain their just demands and decided to instruct members not to work

cargo in overseas steamers on which the original crews have left their jobs and have been replaced by other crows, where steam lias been supplied by ships engineers. .Memliers will only discharge cargo of the vessels manned by foreign and coloured crews which will he worked. Members are also advised to tender financial assistance to British seamen. The manifesto adds that prior to arriving at the decision, the committee watched the deliberations of the Commonwealth Labour Council and had conferred with the Council for the purpose of exploiting every avenue by which they could assist the seamen without causing hardship to the trade union or political movement. From the failure of the owners representatives to meet the Council it was evident the owners ban no. desire for immediate industrial peace. The committee was forced '•< view the matter in a very serious light could not he held responsible in any wav for what the luture might uclormine. Ship owners have declared emphatically in favour ol industrial war and the walcrsidcrs must accept, their declaration. The Walcrsidcrs ifisederatioii was forced to take up the first line of defence and therefore appealed to trade unions generally to assist in every way to bring about a satisfactory ending to the dispute. 1 In* innnifesto signifies that the watersides will not load tiny ship at any Australian ports which has left any other port with a crew of free labour or is worked by its own officers and engineers. It is therefore evident that within '< very short time the whole export and import trade will become definitely ti<-<l up, with the exception of such trade as is conducted by the Commonwealth Line and foreign companies.

LABOR DECISION. SYDNEY. September 18. At the Trades and Labour Council Air Walsh said he had received information that the steamer Orv.oto which wits due at Fremantle shortly, was carrying some hundreds ol free labourers to man the idle ships here. The Council discussed ways and means ol preventing the passengers on the orvieto, which would he declared black on arrival at Fremantle, of getting to the Eastern States. Air Johnson said they would have to he transferred to intci-Stnte ships, which is this were done, would also he declared black. Aft- Walsh said if the passengers came by rail, the railway workers should he instructed to stop the trains.

feed found not guilty. LONDON, Sept. 1". Rocil gave evidence Hint when the ,nolliciiil strike started in August, L'ooklin and Johnson took a leading part. They intimidated members ol the union and assaulted some of them. Conklin came to the Hoard of Trade jffiee on Aug. 21‘and told witness that :,ne man had his nose cut oil' and nnather his eve put out. Reed would pet the same if he did not- stop shipping blacklegs. Johnson subsequently delivered a speech threatening to pull down witness's office and “do the officials.” Reed’s wife was very upset about, the threats, because of the children. Johnson on 20th. August delivered a speech before a crowd of two to three hundred, urging them to ‘‘limb the bloodsuckers.” The meeting became very menacing. Reed became nervous and fired three shots over the heads of the crowd in order to frighten, them. He emphatically denied he'intended to hit or murder anyone. Cooklin then ran towards the door of the office and Reed was afraid he was going to lead the mob to break in. so he fired a shot, wide of him. and stopped him. Cross-examined Reed said he did not "ask for police protection. An official gave him ft pistol because three men assaulted him a week before. Reed was found not guilty and dis chargd.

FEEDING THE STRIKERS. SHIPMASTE RS BKSPOX ST RLE. CAPETOWN. Sept. 17. Acting under instructions from Pretoria. the police at Durban informed the ship-masters they were acting illegally in refusing to feed the men The Government holds the ships are responsible for the expenditure incurred for the sustenance of the men thus forced ashore. A COMMUNIST PLOT. LONDON. Sept. 17. The shipowners, in an official statement, say that they are convinced the strike abroad is part of a great Communist conspiracy against the mercantile marine. The shipowners say: —We are aware Communist agitators induced the men to mati the ships with the deliberate

and definite intention of deserting leaving .shipping stranded till over tin world.”

STRIKE CO.MM.ITT.EE DECISION MEL BOURNE. September IS.

A decision has been reached by th* overseas strike committee to conceii Irate all British seamen on strike ii Australia at a special camp in the vie mitv of Melbourne, probably Altona It is expected for a start that the cam] will comprise 7i.(Hitt men. fills scheim lor mooliin' the accommodation question is regarded ns an economical one. MELBOURNE, September 13. The strike com mit too has communion led with eumniittccs in other Staleasking them to change their objective trom a demand for one pound sterling per month to Australian rates of pay. COOKS' KPLEECHES DISOWNED. BRUSSELS. Sent. 17. The International Miners' Fetler: tu n Bureau, at the instigation of the German Trade Union delegates, lias disavowed Mr Conk's communism speeches in Germany. DE PTNKDO’S FLIGHT. MANILA. Sept. 17. |)c l'inedo has arrived at Aparii.

WATERSIDE DISPUTE. OTHER INDUSTRIES AFFECTED. SYDNEY. Sept. 17. The sugar and timber industries are being seriously affected by the closing of several ports, owing to the action of the waterside workers in introducing the rotary system of employment. The decision of the watersiders to declare black tin- ports of Brisbane and Townsville, where the system was not adopted, has thrown the coastal trade into confusion. All passenger services have lieeii completely disorganised and regular iurgo .services to various Queensland ports are similarly affected . A number of sugar mills ceased operations owing to the inability to move their products. A secret ballot among the Brisbane watersiders resulted in 103 being in favour of the introduction of the rotary system and 937 against.