BRUCE WARNS SEAMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 483, 12 October 1928, Page 9

BRUCE WARNS SEAMEN

Australian Hold-Up “GRAVE SUFFERING AND LOSS” (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) Received Noon. SYDNEY, To-day. VHE Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Bruce, who is closely watching the strike developments, has sent a warning e egram to the Seamen’s Union headquarters at Sydney, declaring that the waterfront dispute is causing grave suffering and loss throughout the Commonwealth, and that he Government cannot allow a continuance of these conditions.

The Government therefore calls upon the union to take action to ensure that Inter-State steamers shall be manned. The telegram concludes: As this inater is one of great urgency, an early reply is desired.” The telegram was before the Labour Council, and after hearing Mr. Jc-’ Garden’s report of the Melbourne Union conference, it was resolved: “That this confeernce calls upon the Central Strike Committee to bring into force immediately the decision of that conference,” which in effect means that the Trades Union Council «hould extend the dispute to other ports. A Melbourne message says that although the militant members of the Waterside Workers’ Council of Action were rebuffed by the drivers and carters, who have refused to join in the strike, they are now trying to extend the dispute to the railwaymen and other organisations, including tug-boat men. MOLESTATION TACTICS A motion declaring the Victoria Dock “black” Is expected to be carried at a meeting to which the railwaymen’s representatives have been invited. At the present the railwaymen are handling goods dbcharged on the wharves by volunteers. m An attempt was made to, interfere W • the carters at Port Melbourne yesterday. Bales of wool were dumped from lorires by the strikers, but the drivers managed to reload them amid jeers from the crowd. The arrival of the police prevented further molestation. SEAMEN’S ATTITUDE The shipowners are . .us to recommission c~astal vessels, but will not decide u_til the attitude of the seamen at all the ports has been defined. Men who hold good discharges and are not members of the Australian Seamen’s Union have offered to man ships. The Victorian seamen, at a meeting to-day, decided to refuse to man any ships.

At Brisbane a mass meeting of waterside workers and seamen to-day adopted a resolution demanding that the Council of Trades Unions and the combined unions' executive should call upon all union waterside workers throughout Australia to cease work. Another resolution carried was that the oversea seamen should be called out and that billeting should be arranged for item.

KING IN THE NORTH

OPENS NEW TYNE BRIDGE HIS SYMPATHY IN DEPRESSION British Official JVireless RUGBY, Wednesday. In the course of his speech at the opening of the new road bridge over the Tyne at Newcastle to-day, King George referred to the grave industrial depression in that district. He expressed his regrets that, owing to the dislocation of trade by the Great War, the coal, iron, steel and shipbuilding industries, which had given world-wide renown to the River Tyne, had been struggling with adversity. His Majesty said he was happy to observe that the dauntless handling of these difficulties was achieving results. Already the coal industry of the north and the shipbuilding of the Tyne appeared to be emerging from the depression. The erection of the new bridge was a characteristic act of courage and demonstrated the belief of the people in the power of those industries to recover their lost trade and again play their former proud role in the world’s markets. GREAT WELCOME GIVEN Great crowds of people had assembled to welcome their Majesties, who had driven through the main thoroughfares along avenues of cheering spectators. They were greeted at the new secondary schools, which they inspected, by 23,000 school children. The new bridge was formally opened by raising a barrier. A Royal Standard was thereupon broken and a salute of guns was fired. Church bells pealed as the King and Queen crossed the bridge, and continued their drive through Gateshead and Durham, where formal welcomes were extended to them.