SHIPPING TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1925, Page 2

SHIPPING TROUBLE.

tAustralia A N.Z. Cable Association,] IN UNDATED WITH APPLICATIONS CAPETOWN, Sep. 21. The Union Castle Company’s ollices have been inundated with applications for employment. Otherwise the shipping position is little changed. SEAMEN TO STAND FJ RAI. SYDNEY, September 21. The Federal Executive of the Commonwealth Labour Council has been recalled to Sydney, and will meet the Oversea Shipping Representatives’ Association in conference to-morrow to discuss the strike situation.

The strikers’ representatives, however. state that the men will stand (irmly to their original claims and will not enter into negotiations while any seamen are still in gaol. SYDNEY, September 21.

The Watersidcrs’ Federation representatives and lion Mr liaddeley (Miui,u*r for Labour) will attend the Conference of the Overseas Shipping Representatives and the ( ommoiiwealta Labour Council. After meeting the striking seamen, tin* Chairman said that the representatives of tl:e men would probably meet the owners at a conference, but would not negotiate for a settlement. (Many of tbe strikers have now taken up shore positions, anti will not appK for re-engagement, even when the

strike is over. The Shipowners Representatives Association state that even il the strike ends to-morrow, months ol trade dislocation lie ahead, and il the strike continues. Australia will face an economic disaster.

DEPORTATION BOARD. SYDNEY. Sept. 2-L At the Deportation Board, Mr AAatt applied for an adjournment of the proceedings until after the Federal elections. COMMUNISTS AND MR LANG. SYDNEY. Sept. 17.

Mr Lang, in a statement repudiating any connection o! the Labour Party with the Communists, states that both he and Mr Charlton (Federal Labour Leader) regard the Communists as Labour's most unscrupulous enemies, and are fighting them at all times. AUCKLAND STRIKERS. AUCKLAND, September 21. Thirteen seamen from the Y\ uiman: were charged in the Police ( ourt to day with unlawfully absenting themselves from the vessel. A large number of seamen marched Horn tin* whar! to tin* Court hearing hauliers with tin inscriptions: "Me preler gaol to starvation!" and “Heroes lid I Slave--11)25!” Mr McYeagh. for the master of tin ship, said the defendants represented only a part ol the crew. In the firs; instance, the whole of the ship’s complement, with the exception of the officers, were ashore. About hall the mci had now returned and were perlorming routine duties, hut none of the defendants had gone hack. 'I here were further informations pending against them for combining to neglect duty. It was proposed to ask that these should lie adjourned. In relcreuee ti the present charges, the (ourt was empowered to order forfeiture "f portion of the men’s wages, and also to order their return to lie* vessel, which wa: waiting to sail for America and England. The necessity of having a crew on hoard was demonstrated on Saturday night, when (lie vessel dragged hei anchors in the high wind, and steps had to be taken to ensure her solely. The .Magistrate, .Mr Cullen, ordered each man to lie returned to the vesso' and In forfeit 22 15s, including 5s costs. The other charges were adjourned until Wednesday, September 23ih. Three seamen from the steamer Malakana were ordered to return to the ship and to forfeit 22 Isf- ill each for unlawfully absenting i hoin-elvo-fwm the ship, and charges id combining to neglect duty were adjourned 1“ September 30th. The men marched hack to the wharf to accompaniment of cries- 'Are we downhearted? No!” BRITISH POSITION. LONDON, September 20. The strike position during the pas! week has -remained unchanged ,in Britain. The estimates of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, the Transporters and the Shipwrignts’, Plumbers’ and Boilermakers’ Unions have iiistnu ted their members to remain at work. Several of the Executives have called recalcitrant local officials to explain their activities. The latter have retaliated by appealing to the Trade Union Congress, but Irmtlessiv. The agitators’ difficulties an*, accentuated hv fewer arrivals of overseavessels for repairs, the upsluit being that efforts to extend the strike t" the shipyards have failed.