SHIPPING TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1925, Page 3

SHIPPING TROUBLE.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] A H F.POKTFD DAXCFR. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON. September 21. The “ Daily .Mail ” says Cuiiards Xew York Office wirelessed Captain Irvine commanding the Bercngaria en route to Southampton with 1095 passengers and crew, declaring an internal machine timed to explode at 1.50 in the afternoon of the eighteenth, was hidden aboard. Irvine immediately organised a search, including luggage but found nothing suspicious. \\ hen the supposed hour of the explosion arrived, he ordered special boat drill and swung the boats out ready for manning, tlie passengers wearing lifebelts. Tnc critical moment passed safely, ft is understood the precautions acre due to an anonomyous letter reaching Canards implicating the Industrial Workers of the World. STKI K HR.S’ F.XCA.M I’M ENT. ULTLMATUAI TO PREMIER. (Received this day at 10.25 a.m.) MELBOURNE, September 21. In a letter to the Premier, .Mr Allen, Chairman of tlie British Seamen's Strike Committee, issued an ultimatum to the State Government to the effect that it it did not make available Crown land and give other assistance, as well as withdraw the obstacles in the way of the encampment for strikers by the Government Departments, the strike committees in Australia will concentrate in a camp, in the environs of Melbourne, all strikers throughout the Commonwealth, in opposition to the expressed desires of the Government. II

the Government is prepared to accept the conditions, of the committee and shoulder the responsibility for the men now on strike in Melbourne, numbering six hundred, the committee undertakes to encamp only that number in Victoria and give guarantees relating to the conduct of tlie camps, the medical inspection of the men and their sobriety and general conduct. Referring to the behaviour of the men the letter stales:—“You must agree with me when I say that their conduct has been ten thousand times more gentlemanly than that of the sailors who visited Victoria in .Tidy of this year. Xot one British seamen has been in conflict with the police, none have been the worse for liquor, nor transgressed the civil laws in any shape or form.”

The letter admits the Government is only doing its duty, according to the

law, in prosecuting the strikers