SHIPPING TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1925, Page 1

SHIPPING TROUBLE.

[Australia, & N.Z. Cable Association.] AIAHJ A. WILL BE COALED. BRISBANE, Oct. 23. Following an interview with the Union leaders by Air Theodore at Gladstone, and the Premier at Brisbane, if is anticipated the coaling of the Alaltia will be none by Unionists, and that the threatened serious trouble between them and the farmers will be overcome. Air Bruce wired the Premier, stating Sir Joseph Cook, a representative of the War Office, and the contractor saw him and the Queensland agentgeneral, and complained some of the held up meat was part of a British Government contract. Sir J. Cook added such action would prejudice a contract now pending, and the Argentine might secure it if something were not done to end the hold-up. Air Bruce added the Federal Government regarded the matter as of lho utmost importance to Australia, and lie asked the Premier to do all possible to get the meat despatched. Air .McCormack, in reply, said lie would be glad if Air Bruce would suggest what the Queensland Government; could do any more than the Commonwealth authorities to end the trouhlo created by the strike of British seamen.

THE AIAHIA COALED. BRISBANE, Oct. 29. The watersiders to-day put coal aboard the Aialiia to keep tho refrigerators going. The police have been vithdrawn from the ship, all is now quiet. Further trouble, is possible owing to the farmers, who are still thronging the town of Gladstone expressing a desire to put aboard all the coal tho Aialiia requires for her hunkers. The police- are still on the jetty, and it- is understood they have been instructed to prevent, tlio farmers attempting to reach the jetty. The steamer Somerset sailed fr- ■ Townsville for Sydney with a full cargo. Fearing possible trouble five carloads of police were rushed to tho wharf, hut they were not required. Tlio strikers made no attempt to interfere. AUCKLAND, October 29. In a charge of intimidation arising out of the seamen’s strike against the New Zealand Federation of Seamen, officer witnesses were called by tho proseculion with a view to show that following the issue of a circular tho firemen refused to work the valves though accustomed to do so for many

On Air Voting beginning Ills crossexamination, the Magistrate said tho only question tho court had to decide was whether the men refused to do tho work they might to have done and had not done, and whether the refusal was tlie result of tho issuo of the circular. Mr Young replied—-Well, the best thing to do is to sit down and say nothing. Air Bcrcndsen. representing file Labour Department quoted two authorities that the action of file men was a, breach of the award and contended that the action of the Executive of the Seamen's Federation was an inducement to an unlawful strike. THE DONKEY.MAN CASE. AEOKLAND. October 29. In the ships' dotikeymau rase. .Mr T. Young, opening for the defence, said the prosecution had proved no signature to the circular sent out to tlio men difeeling them that- they should no longer work the valves or any other kind of machinery in tile engine-room and stokehold of ships. As a matter of fact. lie. was authorised to prepare a circular by the Executive of the I'eileraliun. and lie look the full re spimsiliilit y lor ii. No one should op-i-rale valves imlc.-s be was a duly rcrtilieatetl engineer. He contended the award illegal!;, imposed on donkeytnen and firemen the duty of looking alter lli,- engines and their auxiliaries, but. with a view, no doubt, of extricating itself from any legal issue that, might lie raised as in jurisdiction, the Arbitration ('ouri bad inserted the word:' " as custom;!rv " after lbe word "mix

"What did the men do.'” contend ed Mr Young. "They told the cii gineers they woidd not work valves. They did not leave their work. , aey .simple refused to carry out somethin;'' that was unlawful, and should he unlawful under Section 21 of the Peamen's and Shipping Act. IPOS." At engineer was an ollieer. and was re 11 n i red to hold a lertilieatc. An in eo in pc Ie n I man could mil do (In- work of an engineer and attend to the mill'll• inery. Mr Young alleged that many of the Northern Company's vessels were undermanned, as far as engineers wen concerned, to the danger of the eivw and the passengers. The Magistrate: What does it matter to von how many engineers a vessel ea rries ? Mr Young: When a shin is undermanned, our men are reriuired to attend to valves. The Magistrate: What is the objection to your men attending to valves? Mr. Young: It is illegal. The Magistrate: So that is your objection ? Is the work hard? Mr Young: It is a matter of eonlining our men to work for which they are paid. The Afagisirate: There is no harm in them doing this work then? Mi- Voting: There may be a lot of harm. I nexperii need men nun blow up the ship. There are eases where inexperienced men have been severely injured through attending to valves. Art- Bcrendsen (for the Department).: Can von cite a ease?

Mr Young said that in Australia a man was killed through steam escaping through a valve. The work was legal and it imposed additional hardship on the men. Beguiling the refusal of the men to work. Mr Young said it would have to he proved that the command was lawful before the prosecution could succeed. Patrick O'Shea, Assistant Secretary of the Federated Seamen's Union at Auckland, said he had worked as greaser and donkeyman on ships, hut it was never lii< duty to attend to valves. John Kydd. Government Inspector or Machinery, and (.'apt. Thomas Atwood. Marine Superintendent, were also called as witnesses. The Court adjourned until to-mor-row. STRIKERS REPATRIATED. CAPETOWN, Oct. 28. Two hundred and sixty strikers were repatriated by the Balmoral Castle. N<* trouble was experienced. If. i* exported all strikers be repatriated in a few days. SYDNEY" POSITION QEIET. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY. October 30. Strike matters are quiet in Sydney to-day. Inter-State news is delayed owing to storms disorganising the telegraph lines.

advised to return. AUCKLAND. Oct, 29. Following niion the strike being declared off. the total strikers have been advised by their officials to return to the ships where possible. The only vessel at Auckland affected by the strike was the Terfusis. on which eleven memliers of the crew refused duty yesterday morning, and they ii' the afternoon were sentenced to si' weeks’ imprisonment. The owners decided to give the men in prison an opportunity of returning to duty. This they accepted, and were released from prison, sailing in the Trefusis for Wellington at 6.40 to-night. There are now about 225 strikers in Mount Eden Gaol,