CABINET SPLIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 64, 16 March 1936, Page 8

CABINET SPLIT.

AMERICAN DISPUTE.

Official Clash Over Strike on

Pacific Coast,

WOMAN MINISTER INVOLVED

United Press Association.—Copyright.

(Received 2 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 15.

A sharp clash of opinion over the handling of the reccnt shipping strike on the Pacific Coast has developed within the Cabinet. From March 2 to 5 striking members of the crew of the steamer California, belonging to the Panama Pacific Line prevented her sailing from San Pedro to New York.

The Secretary of Labour, Miss Frances Perkins, intervened, and after an hour's telephonic negotiation from Washington a basis for arbitration was reached and the vessel sailed.

It was revealed yesterday, however, that the Secretary of Commerce, Mr. 1). C. Roper, whose Department controls shipping, insisted that the crew had been guilty of mutiny and he has referred the case to the Department of ■Justice for prosecutions. Miss Perkins still insists that the incident was merely a strike and therefore perfectly legal. Mr. Roper bases his charge of mutiny •>n the contention that the action of the crew jeopardised the safety of passengers, even though the steamer was docked and not on the high seas. So far as can be recalled tliore is no precedent for a charge of mutiny in such circumstances and Labour leaders feel that the conviction of the seamen could be used as a powerful weapon by shipping interests in the event of similar strikes in future. Miss Perkins says her Department will do all that is possible to prevent the arrest ef the seamen. NEW YORK OFFICES. LIFT OPERATORS' STRIKE. (Received 2 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 15. The lift operators' strike, which has i .-en in progress in New York for the past fortnight, ended to-day with a compromise agreement signed between the union and the landlords. The strikers, who are estimated to exceed 10,000, returned to' work in the 2500 buildings affected without discrimination. The question of wages and hours of work will be arbitrated by a special commission. The union was forced to drop its demand that all the buildings should operate under a_ "closed shop" agreement.