UNRULY SCENES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 299, 17 December 1937, Page 7

UNRULY SCENES.

STRIKE ON ORFORD. | Fisticuffs Between Police and Members of Crew. SETTLEMENT REPORTED. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 10 a.m.) SYDXKY, this day. There were unruly scenes between police and strikers at Woolloomooloo wharf last night when more than 200 members of the crew of the cruising liner Orford walked off the ship. One striker attempted to address the crew from a pile of timber. When he ignored the police order to desist the police mounted the pile and attempted to drag him away. In an instant fists were flying and several of the strikers were seized. The demands of the strikers are: — Dismissal of the staff commander alleging unwarranted persecution of the staff; provision of seating accommodation at meals; withdrawal of ri™id inspection in the tropics; and permission for all hands to leave the vessel in port without written permission.

During the night a number of the crew returned to the Orford in launches following a deputation to Captain Cameron, who promised that there would l>e no victimisation. One hundred and fifty men are still on strike.

A meeting between the crew's representatives and tlie company is still in progress, passengers remaining aboard the liner.

It was reported later that the strike had been settled, though the men have not yet returned to the ship.

Captain Cameron addressed the strikers at the wharf. He said he could not agree to the staff commander's removal, but the men cheered him at the conclusion of his address.

The ship is expected to sail this afternoon for New Zealand via Brisbane.