STRIKE CONTINUES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 68, 2 January 1936, Page 5

STRIKE CONTINUES

NEW ZEALAND SHIPS INVOLVED. VACANCIES ON TWO VESSELS. INDUSTRIAL UPHEAVAL URGED. (United Press Association—Copyright.) SYDNEY, January 1. Nearly 2000 seamen reviewed the strike position and empowered tlio strike leader (Mr J. Keenan) if lie saw fit, to begin negotiations with the owners for a speedy and successful termination of the dispute. The meeting authorised the tsrike committee to collaborate more closely with the Australian Council of Trades Unions in an endeavour to reach a settlement. The crews of colliers were instructed to remain on strike till further notice. Delegates from the steamers Hauralci and Ivairanga, which are on New Zealand articles, addressed the meeting about two vacancies, a member of the crew of the Hauraki having been injured and a seaman of the Kairanga having been taken ill. The delegates assured the meeting that these vessels would not sail with volunteers of licensed substitutes. The meeting passed a resolution declining to man any ship on New Zealand articles, and pledging support to the crews of New Zealand vessels.

The owners of both vessels have announced that the vacancies will he filled and that the ships will sail, probably to-day. The meeting discussed the removal of Mr Jacob Johnson from the general secretaryship of the union, and approved it. Mr Johnson was not present, hut sent a letter explaining the reason for his absence, and warning the men that the strike had no hope of success now that the Government had brought seamen under the Transport Workers Act. In Melbourne a mass meeting of seamen decided to continue the strike and endeavour to develop a general industrial upheaval. The meeting endorsed the action of the Sydney branch in replacing Mr Johnson. VOLUNTEERS FOR MORE SHIPS. AOR A NCI MAY SAIL TO-DAY. CREW SOUGHT FOR WANGANELLA SYDNEY, January 1. The breaking of the strike cordon by the Westralia, the first inter-State passenger liner to sail since the beginning of the shipping strike, has encouraged the owners to attempt to man further passenger ships, and it is expected that at least two more inter-State liners will resume running. It is stated that a full volunteer crew has been obtained for the Aorangi, which is expected to sail on schedule for Vancouver to-morrow. The Huddart-tParker Line is busy gathering a volunteer crew for the Wanganella, which is expected to take up her normal run to New Zealand at the week-end, or early next week. VOLUNTEER ASSAULTED NAKED MAN BRUISED AND BLEEDING. SYDNEY, January 1. A large squad cf detectives was rushed to the North Wharf to-day to investigate the finding by three children of a naked, unconscious man, bruised and bleeding. The man, who was taken to hospital, has recovered sufficiently to explain that he was a volunteer wharf labourer and had been assaulted and stripped.