AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1927, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) TASMAN FLIGHT. MELBOURNE, Dec. 29. Moncrieff and Knight’s machine underwent a successful test flight at Point Cook, piloted by Captain flood.

It left the ground within a hundred yards of the starting point, and after remaining up some time, effected an excellent landing. Point Cook officials state that the fliers will probably start the llight to Sydney on Friday morning.

COMMONWEALTH SHIPPING. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 30. The Commonwealth shipping line offered the bosun, cabled yesterday, reemployment, but be declined. The Company’s statement regarding the ease presumes the man acted under pressure from the Union, not being disposed to ask for trouble, as he probably knew that if he bad offered to sign on lie would have lieen disciplined. It quotes a previous similar case where a man who was sticking by the owners was dismissed from membership of the Union, and afterwards found it impossible to obtain employment on vessels on the Australian register. The statement claims that the action taken by the Union in the bosun cases amounts to a complete boycott by the Union of all shipping in Australia.

RUTTER EXPORT. MELBOURNE. I’ ■ The Australian Butter Stabilisation Committee decided to revert to the export bounty of I hive pence per pound under the Patterson Scheme.

SHIPPING TROUBLES. SYDNEY, Dec. 30.

In accordance with the usual procedure, the entire crew of the steamer Moreton Bay was signed off at the conclusion of their engagements. All hands were re-engaged except sixty stewards who refused to serve at the regatta luncheon on Monday, and were dismissed. The stewards subsequently held a meeting at which it was decided to make representations to have reinstatement. Officials of the union interviewed the management hut the demand for reinstatement was refused. There was no offer for engagement today and the directors would have no option but to pay off life crew and lay the vessel up.

Trouble lias arisen out of the derision of the seamen to hold a stop-work meeting on Wednesday without fb sanction of the owners (cabled on Wednesday night). Under the Navigation Act it is provided that men absent from a ship without leave shall have two days pay deducted from their wages. The owners are taking steps to enforce the provision and eight members of the crew of Australian United Steam Navigation Company’s steamer Xackarra gave notice on Wednesday and left tlie vesesl yesterday. There was no response to a call for men to fill the vacancies. A further call will he made to-day and then if members ol the Seamen’s Union still refuse to offer, the remainder of the crew will lie paid off and the Mncknrra will he lan' up indefinitely.