SEAMEN ON STRIKE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 September 1943, Page 3

SEAMEN ON STRIKE

IN AN AUSTRALIAN PORT AND ANOTHER HOLD-UP THREATENED. ATTEMPT TO COERCE FEDERAL PREMIER. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. A general strike of seamen in an Australian port is threatened because the Prime Minister (Mr Curtin) will not withdraw naval ratings from a ship which members of the Seamen’s Union refused to man. Naval men were placed on the ship when seamen refused to man her unless the crew were increased from 19 to 25 seamen. It was claimed that the vessel was unusually difficult to manage with a crew of only 19. In a telegram to Mr Curtin, the secretary of the Seamen’s Union said the presence of naval ratings on the vessel would cause a general strike in port. Replying, Mr Curtin said: “I cannot and will not allow war necessities to be prejudiced by hold-ups of essential supply. Operational requirement left me no alternative but to take steps to allow the vessel to proceed with naval ratings aboard. Seamen asked for the establishment of the Maritime Commission which made important improvements in the standards of seagoing workers. I have to insist that lawful authority be respected.” There are no new developments in a strike of seamen on coastal vessels in a New South Wales port. The men went on strike because a demand for the dismissal of a chief steward was not granted. The strike is already affecting coal deliveries in other States. Because of the inadequacy of coal supplies the use of gas will be restricted in Melbourne from midnight on Monday and restrictions on passenger and goods traffic throughout Victoria will be introduced from Wednesday.