SHIPPING TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1925, Page 3

SHIPPING TROUBLE

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association. 1

STRIKE FIZZLING OUT. SYDNEY, October II

Additional men offered their services to the oversea shipping agents and Ibis had a perceptibly weakening effect on the strikers morale. The steamer Otira secured a full crew and she will sail direct for England. All other vessels are preparing for removal from the stream to the loading berths in anticipation of the settlement of the dispute. .1 ( STICK POWERS. AIKLBOCRXK. October 11. Justice Powers in giving his reasons for calling for a compulsory cotilerence, said there was a serious industrial trouble extending throughout all the States, that export to lirilaiu was seriously retarded and there was evidence of an urgent desire on the part ol the Australian public that the strike be speedily settled. Justice Powers suggests that British seamen appoint - three reasonable men in Melbourne and Sydney as representatives with power to settle expenses, the .Melbourne delegates to be paid. il necessary. MR I’ll CUE'S INTENTIONS.

(Received this day at 10.25 a.in.) URISBAXK, October IT Speaking at (Jyinnie. Mr Itruce reiterated the statement that the idle ships must be manned, adding that possibly trade unionism dominated by extremists might relnse to load them. If that occurred, the ships must and would be loaded. It might be necessary to protect the men working the ships and should the State Govcrnmont fail to cio this, the federal (,overnuient woukl step in and allord the necessary protection acting under the power of the King's peace of the Commonwealth and ol the Constitution. a power which never before had been exercised.

DESPOI I,KHS' WORK. PERTH, October I I. The engineers ol the South African chartered steamer Apolda, which is tied nit at llnnhury owing to the seamen’s strike, found the oil containers leading to the main engines filled with sand. Had the engines been started the bearings would have been ruined in a few revolutions. POSITION' EXAGGERATED. I’KRTII. Oct. 11. The Premier on being advised that owing to the shipping strike the Kmpire Press delegate's would not visit West Australia, commented that the shipping strike at fremantle was exaggerated. His Government had guaranteed sale conduct and immunity from molestation to the ships calling at West Australian ports. SKAM EX SK XT KXCKO. DUNEDIN. Oct. 11. 58 striking seamen from the Raraiiga appeared again in Court before Mr Bartholomew. S.M.. on a charge of combining to disobey lawful commands. The Magistrate asked at the outset if the cabled news about tlm termination of the strike did not affect the men s position. Mr Rrasch. tor the men. stated that as this was not' official, they could not take notice, or alter their attitude. The Magistrate said he had hoped to he relieved of an unpleasant dutv. He could not take into account the merits of the ease. I lie men had committed an offence and mini I punished. As to their lighting lor a principle, while they aimed at some one at Home, they were hitting New Zealand. They woiihl he sentenced le six weeks' imprisonment. Mr Hanlon, for the companies, stated three were youths ol Ui, 1i and IS years respectively. The .Magistrate decided as to these that they be convicted and ordered to come up tor sentence il called upon, on condition that they stayed on the ship. In view of the lack of accommodation at the Dunedin Gaol the six weeks’ sentences are to lie served in the Pnparua gaol. The Magistrate instructed that if there were any developments in the strike position before the men are sent to Papa run he should he informed.