COLLAPSE OF STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 243, 14 October 1925, Page 7

COLLAPSE OF STRIKE.

ONLY THREE SHIPS REMAIN. OUT OF ELEVEN HELD UP. THREE SiAIL TO-DAY. The strike of overseas seamen in Auckland, which has been ■ tottering for days past as ship after ship manned by volunteer labour left Auckland, has now collapsed. It- was a solo effort on the part, of the strikers; they received only financial support from other organisations.

For the first week or so of the strike the shipping companies did not make any move and as the vessels arriving from overseas were held up, immediately they had completed the ■ discharge of the" Auckland portion of their cargo the strikers began to gain confidence. However, last week, the shipping companies fired their first- shot when they had the men who refused duty prosecuted, and, as batch' after, batch were sentenced to imprisonment, the ships were left clear of the strikers, and the way was opened for manning the vessels with volunteer labour. Of the latter there was plenty offering and without experiencing any trouble tlie boats began to sail. Yesterday the Port Hacking and Devon left for southern ports to complete discharge of cargo, and to-day the Treverbyn, and to-morrow the Matakana. and Waimana. will iti all probability, leave. The Treverbyn and Matakana proceed south to complete discharging cargo at Wellington. Lyttelton. and Dunedin. but the Waimana, which has a full cargo of New Zealand produce, will proceed to New York, Boston, and London. .

This leaves only the Athentic. Tainui, and Zirial, at Auckland, of the ships affected, and the Zinal will be the next to go, as she is expected to sail within the next couple of days.

A cable from London state* that the strike has been declared off at all ports and no doubt the strikers will be again given the opportunity to join their ships. So faT-only one ship, the Ruahine. has sailed for ports outside New Zealand, so that the seamen now ashove. and those in prison, if tlie latter consent and are released, will be able to asam Teturn to duty.

The Tainui. which went into dock two days ago for cleaning and painting, comes out this afternoon and will anchor in the stream. She will later commence load'ng for. London. It was intended to get the Waimana away to-day, but one of the filling pipes connected with /ihe water service burst, and the vessel's sailing has been delayed. An early move is to be made to get the Athenic away to southern ports, and the Matakana will leave to-morrow morning.