SYMPATHY FROM N.Z.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 299, 18 December 1935, Page 7

SYMPATHY FROM N.Z.

Possibility of Being Drawn Into Dispute. SYDNEY SEAMEN MEET. (Received 11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. An unusual number of qualified seamen have applied for work at the shipping offices. They asked that the employers give an assurance of continuity of employment if they took out licenses.

Delegates from New Zealand, at the mass meeting of seamen yesterday, announced that they would report favourably on the strike position when they returned to the Dominion, and if the dispute was not over in a fortnight, the New Zealand union would consider calling a sympathy strike on all ships registered at New Zealand ports.

Over 2000 seamen were present at the meeting. It was unanimously decided to continue the strike until their demands were met, and it was also resolved to empower the strike committee, the leader pf which is Mr. J. Keenan, to conduct a conference with the shipowners in order to try to reach an agreement which would overcome the objections to the existing award.

The meeting decided not to involve inter-State vessels at present, owing to the risk of volunteers filling their places. Tlio crews of these vessels, however, have undertaken to pay 2/6 in the pound from their wages toward the strike fund.

Five volunteer seamen were attacked by a mob of men near the wharves yesterday, and a brisk fight ensued. The volunteers held their own, and emerged from the encounter with cuts on their faces and hands, but declaring that they had given their assailants, who fled at the sight of the police, as much as tliey received.

A message from Melbourne says that the secretary of the Australian Council of Trades Union, Mr. C. Crofts, yesterday forwarded a request to the Federal Attorney-General, Mr. R. G. Menzies, for a speedy conference to discuss the repeal of the seamen's licensing regulations. Mr. Crofts has received a reply stating that Mr. Menzies will confer with him on Thursday.

More than 3000 seamen and 2000 kindred unionists are already affected by the strike at all ports.