IN AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1922, Page 5

IN AUSTRALIA.

RUMORS OF TROUBLE. SEAMEN RESENT ACTION. MEETING TO BE HELD. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. , Received Nov. 15, 10.25 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 15. A meeting of the Seamen’s Union will be held to-morrow to discuss the position which has arisen out of the New Zealand trouble. Many rumors are current regarding the possible outcome of the meeting, among others that the local seamen resent the treatment meted out to the crews of the Moeraki and Wa.ika.wa. Among many seamen gathered in the vicinity of the union offices today were heard individual declarations that they would man no vessels until the two crews were released and the Australian rates and conditions observed. How this represents the feeling of the men as a whole remains to be shown at to-morrow’s meeting. Whatever betide, preparations for dispatching the Makura and the Ulimaroa on the fixed dates are proceeding. MAILS FROM AUSTRALIA. ARRANGEMENTS MADE. Received Nov. 16, 1.30 a m. Sydney, Nov. 15. The Ngatoto’s crew has been paid off. It is now announced that the New Zealand mail will be shipped in the Waiwera, sheduled to leave Newcastle for Wellington to-morrow. It is understood the mails from, the Kauri will be transferred to the Waiwera. POSITION IN AUSTRALIA. NGATORO WITHOUT CREW. Newcastle, November 15. Seamen on the Ngatoro, bound for Napier with timber, refused to sail while on Australian articles. The crew were originally on New Zealand articles until the vessel was engaged in the Tasmanian fruit trade. The seamen contend that the Ngatoro was now being taken to New Zealand to assist in strjke-breaking. but the management explains that the vessel was listed to take up the New Zealand running before the trouble with the seamen occurred. AUCKLAND COASTAL BOATS. MAINTAINED BY FREE LABOR. Auckland, Last Night. Shipping companies have already received sufficient applications for work to provide crews for several coastal vessels. The Northern Company announces that five auxiliary coastal vessels will be dispatched for coastal ports to-mor-row. The Union Company hopes to dispatch the Arahura for Gisborne shortly. The schooner Elsie to Great Barrier, and the Tuhoe, an auxiliary vessel, were both dispatched this evening with free labor. The loading and departure were watched by the police. NAPIER WATERSIDERS. SYMPATHETIC WITH STRIKERS. Napier, Last Night. The Napier watersiders are taking a different line of action in reference to the strike to those in other parts. This morning gangs were required for three Richardson vessels, but as they were manned by free labor the watersiders refused to* accept engagement. The employers are resolved, if a further call is ignored, to refuse to engage the union men, and call for free labor. No difficulty is being experienced in replacing the seamen, plenty of labor offering. xv • 4w • The services between Napier and waii roa and Napier and Giahorne are being maintained . by ships with free labor crews. The Employers’ Federation and the Chamber of Commerce are resolved to give every support to the shipowners in maintaining the services. POSITION MOKE PROMISING. GOOD RESPONSE FGR MEN. Wellington, November 15. The indications are that the .back of the shipping trouble will very shortly be broken. The only danger is the possibility of the extension of the hold-up to other industries, should the Alliance of Labour decide to intervene by calling on other workers to give the seamen, practical support. Men are coming forward in plenty to man the vessels in response to the invitation issued by the shipowners. "We are getting an exceedingly gratifying response to the call for men,” stated Mr. T. O. Bishop, secretary of the New Zealand Shipowners’ Federation, today. "There is not the slightest doubt that before the end of the week we shall have more than enough men to I man all the ships. Reports from other I ports indicate that the position is also satisfactory in other parts of the Dominion.” The men volunteering to prevent the shipping trade of the country from being paralysed are stated to be of excellent type. They include a fair sprinkling of experienced seamen and firemen. The fact that properly qualified seafarers are signing on for service on ships is believed in some quarters to indicate that many of the men are tiring of the hold-up and are anxious to get back to work again. A meeting of seamen was held this morning, but Mr. Young, secretary of the Seamen’s Union, stated afterwards that he had nothing to say. "We are saying nothing at all,” he remarked. WELLINGTON’S CEMENT SHORTAGE. Wellington, November 15. The strike is causing ia shortage of cement, and the Mayor says the City Council will have to stop work as soon as the present supplies run out. Hp also added that the unemployment fund was not going to be used to assist men on strike. The announcement that arrangements had been made for fruit boats to run to Nelson caused some curiosity as to how the crews were provided. It is now • stated they are not union labour. The Shipowners’ Federation has opened a labour office and announces a satis- | factory response. Three crews could 'aave been supplied for the Maunganui.