SHIPPING TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1925, Page 2

SHIPPING TROUBLE.

[Australia A* N.Z. Cable Association.] DISPUTE ON TEES. WELLINGTON, Oct. 0. the result of a dispute between the members ot the crew of the coastal steamer Tees, the vessel is at piesent held up in Wellington. She was to have sailed last evening for Westport and Greymouth with general cargo, but the members of the crew demanded the discharge of a certain member of the ship's complement. Captain Dowell, master of the Tees, could not agree to meet the demand. BLAH INK GETS AWAY. OWNERS TAKE ACTIVE STEPS. AFC lx LAND, October 7. The first overseas steamer to clear a New Zealand port since the strike of the British seamen commenced seven weeks ago. is the Buahiiie, which sailed from Auckland for London this evening. She was a lull stun, ('mixing a cargo ol produce valued at "el! over £800.0(111. With a single exception. her cargo of butter is the largest over lifted by a single vessel leaving a New Zealand port, and it is worth. <>u to-day's prices, the princely sum ot CfSOJKM). She carries as well 0000 toils of other cargo, all primary products.

The l’uahiue. which had been taken into the stream on Tuesday night, required 13 men to complete her complement. There was no difficulty in securing these. They were taken off in a launch at A o'clock last evening, without any demonstration by the strikers. Forty of the Bunhino’s c rew had not joined the strikers. Being an oil burner. she does not carry firemen, but had more men been required, there would have been no diHieiilty ill finding thorn. The extra men signed on are stated to he nearly all discharged seamen. S*nee the conference between the owners, the strikers and the Prime Minister in Wellington failed, the owners have taken active steps to get the idle vessels to sea. Although it was only on Tuesday afternoon that Ike failure of negotiations was known, the owners’ policy ol action bore its first fruit within twenty-lour hours, the Federal steamer Kent sailing yesterday at noon for AAeliingion. Ihe extra hands to man her were chiefly cadets from the Devon. Six hours later the Buahine lmd sailed for London. Fresh development may he expected from day to day. Four seamen Irom the steamer Devon w ere charged in the Police Court to-day with being absent from the skip without leave. They expressed willingness to return to the ship. An order was made accordingly with costs. A meeting of striking seamen, unanimously decided to reject the shipowners' proposals at the Wellington conference. OFFERS OF HELP. WELLINGTON, October 7. From all parts of the Dominion, farmers unions h.ave pledged themselves to support any action taken to deleat the* aims of the British seamen strikers, and to get their ships away. A Citizens’ Committee here met in camera. Vhe result of their proceedings was not published. Mr W. B. Mathesou (Acting President of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union) said to-day; I here is not sullicieiit labour to get produce away, and the Farmers' i'nion with other producers' orgaiiiaslions will see that tlm labour is available."

There are ships in port here nearly liilly loaded. When the loading operations are completed, moil required to get theii ships away will be forthcoming. It is reported that the strikers, wh" have had free meals and ae'-oiiciModa-(ion mended lor l hem, hair hero working ashore and earning i'll to L'l a week. The Union recalled them, hut Union members paying a levy were very sore about it. STBATKOBD, October 7.

A largely attended and very representative public meeting presided over by the Mayor this afternoon decided to telegraph the following resolution to the Prime Minister, front the Mayor and County Chairman, as representatives of the town and country: *• AA'hile regretting that your mediation in the strike was of no avail, your present action and any 1 tirthot* action you might take in having boats manned has the wholehearted support of tlx* dairying industry in Taranaki as represented at a meeting held in Stratford to-day.” The meeting also undertook to assist the Government in providing men for the manning and loading ol the boats, and also men lor protecting winkers, if required. The resolution was heartily endorsed by tie member for the district and other prominent men. HASTINGS, October 7. The Governor-General speaking at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon here, said Unit people in Great Britain wore awakening la tie high standard of New Zealand products, but it those products were In meet willi*ti:e success llk-y deserved, regularity of supply would have* to lie assured, as there were many people m England who would give preference to articles which they knew to fie interior,' but of which thev would

lie assured of receiving in regular sllppL\. It was lor ihis reason that one was so hori'iiied as to tile .seriousness of the present shipping situation. IL was not for him to say anything regarding tlie right or wrong of the matter, hut it was unquestionable that regularity of supply was. receiving a set back from winch it would take years In recover. If could only be hope that wiser councils would prevail, and that the difficult situation would be straightened out. K[.TiIAM YOLENTEERS. TILTH AM, Oct. 8. Over cue hundred men \clunieered here to Hum the ships, load the ships, or engage in protective work, should the Government require their services during tlie strike. government action sepportED. KK ETA HEX A, Oct. s. The Chamber of Commerce last night supported the action of the Government regarding the strike and re-olved to do anything in its power to a-sist il the necessity should arise. SYDNEY STRIKE NEWS. SYDNEY: Oct. 7. Tlie Labour Council lias instructed all the unions affiliated to the Council that they must refrain from working all ships that are in the dispute. This order does mu apply to the Stievie and the Orrietu. What action should be taken in connection with these boats will be considered later.

The waterside workers refused to obey the instructions, stating they would work the ships. The Snevic arrived. Tlie stewards were doing the work of the B.'} stokers, who joined the strikers at Melhotfrno, The coal lumpers have decided not to coni the Orvieto. Another hatch of strikers were today sentenced to -even days’ imprisonment. The watersiders state they will unload the Snevic. The British seamen strikers have formd a Federal Executive consisting of, delegates from all tho ports of tho

Commonwealth, whore vessels are held up. At the Deportation Board to-day, Mr Watt renewed the demand for the attendance of Mr Bruce (Premier) and Senator Pearce. He stated that if they would attend, he would use his inlluenec to get the witnesses for Mr Torn Walsh to answer the Commonwealth Counsel's questions. The Board, however, refused to alter its previous decisions.

COM M VNI STS INTEB ESTED. MELBOURNE, Oct. 7. The Conmnist Party lias summoned a left-wing Union Conference at Melbourne to consider the seamen’s strike. ENGLISH ITEMS. LONDON. Oct. 6. The continental shipowners will attend a conference with the British shipowners in London shortly. It is for the purpose of arranging for their concerted action in labour disputes. LONDON, Oct. 7. “Mr Bruce ha.s acted wisely and courageously." says the “Times,” in an editorial. “He has appealed to tho country to choose between the I’arliamentnrv democratic system and tondencics of control of which Communists arc the chief exponents. It is the firsttime such an issue has been so sharply and conspicuously raised in any partof the Empire. The progress of the Australian electoral campaign will ho watched here and in the Dominion!) with some wonder that Australia, should he the scene of such an experiment. and with unusual concern. Aus India, prosperous, thinly populated and remote from flic stormy old world, was so dreamers might have argued, tlm last place on earth to have exposed to so modern and strenuous a controversy. Perhaps Australia has been too rcaclilv disposed to linger among sunlit dreams, and to tolerate many things that seem to he too absurd to he real or dangerous. This attitude has given enemies of authority their opening.’’ The editorial proceeds to say; “A review of Ml* Bruce’s speech at Dandenong affirms a l>ig programme for promoting prosperity of a A\ bite Australia. which is waiting accomplishment, mi can only he carried out if the countrv is determined to free itself oneo and for all from a stranglehold of extremists who, by manoeuvres now transparent, have gained control o 1 trade union machinery.’’ The editorial commends as fair, moderate, and thoroughly democratic Air Bruce’s proposal to restore democracy within trade unions bv means of secret ballot, aud concludes: “It is a- critical moment in the history of Australia, a moment jn which the imperilled cause of constitutional government must make the strongest possible appeal.” LABOUR UNION STRATEGY. LONDON. Oct. 8. Mr Havelock Wilson and Mr Cotter report that- tbev enrnlb’d four thousand members of the Sailors’ and Firemen's Union in Montreal. Quebec aud Now York, nil being from British shins. Air AY i Iso 11 understands that onl\" £IO.OOO is left out of the CIOO.OOO handed over bv the Cooks’ ami .Stewards’ Union when amalgamation with the Marine AATirkers Union was effected throe veal's ago. Hence the marine workers shortage was funds. Air AYilson lias been informed that Air Shin well is issuing to the strikers free tickets of membership in the Marino AA'orkers Union hoping the now members "ill he able to liav ill the future, thereby swelling the nominal membership of the union.