SHIPPING DISPUTE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 52, 23 October 1931, Page 3

SHIPPING DISPUTE

(Press Assn. — ■

SEAMEN'S MEETING DECIDES TO CALL OUT ALL " COASTAL CREWS AUSTRALIAN SHIPS HELD UP

By Telegraph — Copyright).

Rec. Oct. 22, 11.20 p.m. SYDNEY, Thursday.. A startling turn was given to the seamen's dispute as a result of a mass meeting of 2000 seamen held in Sydney to-day, when it was decided to declare a strike on the whole of the ships employed on the Australian eoast, all the crews of the inter-State vessels being required to give notice by 5 p.m. to-night. The terms proposed by the Conciliation Commissioner in Melbourne on Monday were rejeeted. It is reported that a two-thirds majority reached the decision for a general strike on coastal shipping, which is deelared binding on all States. The position has been telegraphed to all ports. The seeretary of the Sydney branch of the union advocated the resumption of work on compromised terms, but was howled down. The notice given by the crew of the s.s. Ulimaroa, will not expire until 5 p.m. to-morrow and as the vessel is due to sail for New Zealand at 2 p.m. she will probably get away. The shipping owners are eonsidering the position. It is unofficially statod that they will take the Prime Minister at his word and urge him as a preliminary move to take action against the strikers under the Federal Crimes Act. The seamen's meeting was very protracted and 'was not concluded until late this afternoon. A large number of militants created pandemonium and it was impossible for the spealcers to make themselves heard. The shipping owners subsequently indicated that they had no intention of eonceding any further demands or privileges and expressed the opinion that they had no alternative but to accept the ehallenge and invite free labour. A decision to this effect will be announced immediately. The transhipment of cargo from the vessels already involved, the Canberra, Wear and Westralia, is almost completed at a heavy cost, at least £25,000 in wages being lost by the idle crews. A shipping owners' campaign will be conducted from Melbourne where the headquai'ters are situated and the Sydney ofiice is now in close touch awaiting the next move. "We know where we stand now," remarlced one prominent shipping man. A provision of the Navigation Act enables the Commonwealth Government to grant terms to British overseas ships to carry cargoes and passengers between Australian ports when it can be shown that the coastal services are inadequate. Interviewed, Col. Campbell, leader of the New Guard, stated: "We are now discussing the whole position with the shipping m'en and I cannot say more just now."