SAILOR SLAVES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 246, 17 October 1929, Page 7

SAILOR SLAVES.

MARITIME PARLEY. "Little Better Than Traffic In Negroes." LABOUR MAN'S OUTBURST. (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) (Received 1 p.m.) GENEVA, October 16. A compromise has been effected under which the employers will participate in the International Maritime Conference. During a discussion on the hours of work the Australian, Mr. Festu, said that the tradition was that a sailor must work all that every hour demanded of him. He would do all in his power to sweep that musty tradition into oblivion. He thought that the eailor was substituted in the labour market when negro slavery was abolished. Negroes were bought outright, sailors were simply hired, used up and then thrown on to the scrap heap. The losses of the Commonwealth Line were due to incompetence and wild extravagance. The Australian hours had not resulted in a decline in shipping. Having worked under Australian conditions for many years Mr. Festu said ha stood steadfast in his belief that it was the best possible system yet devised. He asked' the conference not to endorse the "barbarous system of traffic in men's bodies and souls."