TOM WALSH LEAVING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10684, 30 December 1925, Page 5

TOM WALSH LEAVING

VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE.

TWELVE MONTHS IN BRITAIN. PRESIDENT OF NEW UNION. (Per Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Dav, 8.50 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. The secretary of the new Seamen’s Union announced that Tom Walsh is going to England at the end of January to take office was president of the new Union of British Seamen. He will remain in Britain twelve months.

SEAMEN NAME ALTERNATIVE. AUSTRALIANS OR BRITISH. (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The consensus of opinion at the Trades Hall is that the British Seamen’s Union, which was formed during the recent strike, will be disbanded owing to insufficient support. The leaders of most of the maritime unions were always sceptical regarding the success of the venture, pointing out that the needs of British seamen were already adequately met by Mr J. Havelock Wilson’s organisation.

There is much opposition among the rank and file to the proposal that Tom Walsh should be allowed to organise British seamen. It is understood that some branches have given Walsh to understand that he must choose between the general presidency of the Australian Seamen and the British Seamen.

At a meeting of seamen yesterday Walsh did not ask for leave of absence, as was expected. It is reported that British seamen are enthusiastic about the new union. Many expressed dissatisfaction at the manner in which Walsh conducted the recent strike.