SHIPPING TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1925, Page 2

SHIPPING TROUBLE.

fAustralia it N.Z. Cable Association ] COM PI LSI IP, Y CONEEHENt E. SYDNEY. Dctuhor ’AJ. When the coiiipulsory coniereiiee to consider the Britisii seamen's strike met again to-day. the seamen’s roprese it til 11 ves reiterated the intention ol the men not to negotiate until all the imprisoned strikers are released. They stated they also would not submit their claims for consideration by the Arbitration Court, in view of the shipowners refusal to help them to secure the release of their imprisoned cont-

raltos. Mr dust ire Powers was unable to refer the matter into Court and considered it in the usual way. The conference thereiore proved abortive.

Air Justice Powers. in a lengthy statement, suggested that tlie men should go hack to the ships and settle the dispute on tiie nest, terms it was possible to secure at the moment, doing so under protest : and should return to England, relying on their powerful Union there to secure the lull consideration oi their claims. 1 lie Judge pointed out that the shipping Companies' representatives had ret used to consider the men’s claims because the owners could nof pay the rates demanded without paying the same rates in other parts of the world. By dishonouring their agreement, tlie men would lose the sympathy ol the public, both here and in England, and would stand for the lirst time as British seamen who haul treated their articles and their bond as Hermany treated Belgium, a "scrap of paper." This was not British. They should not accept the advice of those who had advised them tor the advisers' own hvuefit and not for the men’s benefit. Me felt it his duty, as a conciliator, to put the case before the men so that thev may end the strike. They had been sadly misled in taking up and maintaining the position they had. Whoever had suggested the condition iltai the imprisoned men should hi' released before the strikers negotiated or returned to work, was a very clever opponent to eoneiliat ion or arbitration. It is reported that, in view oi the altitude the Britishers have taken as regards the intervention ol the Arbitration Court, there i- a probability ol the Sydney seamen, who had been paying; a os levy werklv to assikt them, withdrawing iheir support. They will meet to-morrow to consider their attitude towards the strikers.

,iT AUSTRALIAN PORTS. SYDNEY, October 21). Striking seamen decided to attend n,■-dav’s conference, hut refused ti -tale what auiliide their delegates would tidopt. The Federal Executive of the British Seamen’s Strike Committee has telegraphed to the Melbourne Secretary of the Strike Committee, stating that there is every possibility of a settlement. and instructing him to approach the Victorian Hovcrnmcnt and urge the release of all imprisoned strikers. At present there are only two British seamen lit gaol ill \ ietoria. Eort v-lotir British steamers in Australian ports arc idled hv the strike. The aggregate tonnage is :iSI ..100. show, ii.g hiss to Saturday last o! L'7otl.tltlfl. It is estimated that the British seamen ill Australia have !nsi V>,lf H ) in wages. Local trade i- lining hampered and restricted by the mm-armal of the present season's goods. A moderate valuation of the goods on inward and outward British ships held up is L’d.OOß.ntin. and it is considered that a l least go err lent, of inward cargoes would have been sold l>v this time ii the goods had been landed to schedule.

The greatest apprehension is fell among primary producers regarding Hie ultimate effects of I lie strike. Th ’ export of heel lias practically (cased and H I ■ est i loa I (.’, I that over Cl JUKI. 11: 1 "o r 1 1 1 of lliis tommoi Ii l y is h*■l • I ii]:. it is feared that the overseas markets will never lie regained.

AT THE CAPE. CAPFTOWX, Oetoher HL The strikers are Utter at the new* Unit the Durban Committee had distributed L'.'iOOO amongst men who have returned to the slops. At a Communist meeting, the strikers stated they had been sold by Labour politicians. The authorities to-day enforced the severest restrictions at, the docks to prevent the strikers from getting in touch with the seamen of the Persic, on her way to Australia, who refused to join tiie striker*. The position is How regarded as safe, despite wild threats ol staggering event*.

AIORF SAILINGS. AITKLAND. Oetoher 20. Two more British ships, the AYainmmi .and the Ulaki. were despatched from Auckland to-day. The Waimami sailed at li. 11l a .m. for London, via New York and llosloii, and the Otaki at l..')(l p.m. for Wellington, Lutelton ami Dunedin. The AA’aimana hud been loaded for some weeks, hut her departure was delated bv the strike. Her crew con-

sists of TO volunteer seamen. She is the fourth British steamer to leave New Zealand with produce for Fnglaiiil since the strike commenced. The other three ship* wore the Ruahino. Ar.uwa and Port Dunedin. The strike delayed ill" Otaki for oiilv 21 hours. She ua* ready to *ail at J p.m. on Alondav. However, the stokers refused duty, and her departure was po*ii)i>ned. The deckhand* - lour able seamen and nine ordinary seamen did not go on strike. Ibn firemen and trimmer* were replaced bv .'!2 volunteer stoker*.

The departure ol the Taimii to-morrow evening will he interesting a* *he carries a mixed crew. A number o! her men did not go out to duty again. Inti they are more or less 'till in sympathy wiili the strikers. In addition the ship has thirty voluit!i"T seanten. ( uUscqtlcnt ly anything might occur at sailing time.

In accordance with their undertaking lo resume win k. 23 stoker* from the Port Hacking, who la*i week w* re sentenced to *ix week*' iinprisonineitt for nd Using duty, were released from gaol to-day. I hev left liv the main trunk express this evening to join tile *bip at AA ellingtim. Engineer* belonging to the Company acted ;is stokers on the Port, Hacking’- trip from Auckland to Wellington,