SHIPPING TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1925, Page 3

SHIPPING TROUBLE.

[Australia A N.Z, Cable Association.]

OTAI\US El KEM EX RESUME. ACCKLAXI). October Id

After being sentenced m the Police Court lute this iittcniooii to six weeks' imprisonment lor disobeying luwlul coiiiimiiuls. 111 meirihers of the stokehold crew of the Otnki. clumped their minds and derided tmaninioii-ly to go hack to the ship, and do as they wentold. The alternative charges were preferred against the men ol combining to diso'iev law flit" commands, neglecting duty, and impeding the progress of the vessel. They pleaded guilty to the lirsi charge.

Mr I!. MeVeiiph for the Xew Zealand Shipping Company, said that when the captain requested the men in prepare the shin lor sea, this morning, they refused. A delegate had said the men would take the ship out into tli * stream hut they later refused to do this. All the men signed in London for CO Ids a month, and therefore they had no complaint regarding tlie reduetiou in wages. Accused were sentenced hy .Magistrate Hunt to six weeks’ imprisonment. One who was under the ago of hi was ordered to return to! the ship. While the men were waiting to Intaken to Mount Eden Caul, they were approaching hv the Secretary of the Seamen's Union, and the captain, and as a result of a short conference, they decided they would return to the ship and carrv out their duties.

Mr .McYcagh said he was willing that tin- men should return under certain conditions, firstly, they must he prepared to work, and secondly they must he prepared to take the ship l" sea. When asked if they were willing to carry on with these obligations. tin men said they would. The Magistrate accordingly adjourned the ease until Monday. AI'STK A MAN NEWS. SVDM'.'V. Oetoher If!. .Mr Seale, Deputy-Secretary ol the Overseas Shipoinp Association, has received a eahie from the British Shipowners, stating they are willing licit he shall attend, as a matter ol courtesy, Monday's compulsory conference, conditional upon tlu-rc being no assumption that there is any implication by such attendance that the British Shipowners accept the jurisdiction ot the Commonwealth Arbitration f'otirl. in anv rpiestion nlierting Die ships articles, except on principles and terms ■which have hceu enunciated on their helm If throughout the strike. Ihe message adds that the shipowners deny t lie re is any matter in dispute, and consider the intervent ion ot the ( oiiit is ultra vires, and is calculated to prolong and extend the trouble. A mass meeting of the strikers here to-day discussed their attitude towatds .Monday's ronferrm-e. A lively discussion disclosed a eonsiderahle rlillerenee of opinions among the leaders. Mi Tom Walsh favoured a Liable talk with the owner-. Mr -lolm-oii considered it a weakness to diseii-s peace terms with the owners. Ilu-ie was also iinieh dillcreiieo ot opinion a mono the strikers themselves. It is understood that, hetore the di-eii-sinli eonimeiices at tin- coiilerem-c, the strikers’ representatives will demand the release of all the strikers now imprisoned throughout tin- Com iwealth. When the President and one ol i lie members of the Pea men’s Strike ( ommitteo appeared at the Police C onrt

on -i charge arising out ol the strike, the defending counsel suggested that as the President had been summoned to attend Monday's ('ompiilsorv Conference, the ease In- ad ion rued in view of flic possibility (, l Du- cMilci'cnce settling the strike. The .Magistrate agreed and lie was remanded till I hursday.

MELBOURNE. October Hi. The Orient, Company anti'iimces that the departure of tlm Orviel... which was to have left, for l.oialon. on Salur<lav, has been postponed, the steamer has a toll clew til’ unionists, who brought her from London, hut the Senmen’s "Union refuses to allow the colliers to cual her. PERTH. October 10. A mass meeting of the British senmen here passed a resolution repudi.ttino Mr Shinwcll's cabled declaration nailing the strike oil", declaring that th<‘v are more determined to win the fip;h t flian ever. The Seamen’s Union prevented the tvhaif labourers removing ashes from oversea vessels. A DELA IDE, October Id. The steamer Automedon sailed lor Europe, her crew remaining loyal. Till'; OItSOVA. LONDON, October 1.”.. The Australian steamship lines state intimidatory picketing of the Orsovn justified their decision to omit any call at. Fremantle. There had been a lailure on the part of the Slate authorities to restrain pickets. "I lie owners consequently have cabled Imldine the Federal and State Ooveriiments responsible for damage and loss line In lack ol protection. ullmaboa man it. vP«c«ived this day at 8 I.IID SYDNEY, October Id. The steamer Ulimaroa, which should hiive sailed for Wellington at noon is ) 0 ! ( | mi. It is understood the trouble occurred with the stokers over the question of overtime. Two hundred ami twenty passengers wen l aboard and have landed. The crew have been piven twentv-four hours notice and the probability is that the Ulimaroa'- departure is indefinitely delayed. SYDNF.Y. October Id.

Scant details are disclosed concernj„jr the l limaroa's position. 'I he trouble started early in the day ami negotiations proreeded throughout the day. The passengers remained aboard till late in the evenin'; in hopes that a settlement would he reached. I'inal]v those vanished amt the company decided to cancel tile sailing ami pay off the crew. The passengers were landed. The Ulimaroa has a heavy mail aboard. The Port Darwin secured a full new > .pul sailed for New Zealand ports tonight .