SEAMEN'S STRIKE

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18526, 30 October 1925, Page 11

SEAMEN'S STRIKE

CARGOES HELD UP. FARMERS IN DESPAIR. UGLY ASPECT IN QUEENSLAND. (AUSTXALIAy AXZ> y.z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.! BRISBANE, October 29. Conditions ai C'airas are assuming an ugly aspect. There have been several freo fights, and disturbances verging 011 a riot occurred near the wharves. I 1 aimers and timber-workers" are reduced to despair owing to the hold-up of cargoes, and a meeting of farmers and timber-workers sent an ultimatum to the watersiders that unless they resume work by Friday the farmers will handle their own produce. It was also resolved to ask the shipping companies whether, in the event of the farmers guaranteeing tho necessary labour to work tho ships, they would send ships to Cairns to remove produce. It was further decided to organise farmers in tho district to give effect to the resolutions. Tlie Inkernjan Chamber of Commerce decided to telegraph Dr. Farle Page, Federal. Treasurer, saying that, "owing to tho apathy of the State Government regarding the calamitous situation at Inkerman, we urgently desiro you to dispatch a Commonwealth steamer to Bowen to remove sugar ta the southern refineries. Every assistance is guaranteed locally by the farmers to load tho vessel." Coal for Refrigerators. A meeting of strikers at Gladstone endorsed the resolution of the Strike Committee in Brisbane agreeing to supply sufficient coal to the Mahia to keep the refrigerators working. Several violent speeches wore made against the resolution, but it was finally carried by an overwhelming majority, and coaling operations were commenced to-day. Mr W. McComack (Premier) lias telegraphed warning tho Mayor of Gladstone that farmers or strikers committing a breach of the peaco will be arrested. HUNTER RIYER VESSELS. EMBARGO STILL IN OPERATION. SYDNEY, October 29. A full unionist crew lias been secured for the Sucvic, wliic-h will sail on Friday. The Marine Transport Group Union has decidedi not to lift the embargo placed on the Newcastle and Hunter Iliver Company's vessels at the end of last year, and members of th© Seamen's Union who had been instructed by tlieir leaders to interview tho company on the subject ol : manning the vessels with unionists have been ordered to discontinue negotiations. DEMAND FOR PROTECTION. SOUTH AFRICA'S REQUIREMENTS. MELBOURNE. October 29. Mr Stanley Bruce has received a cable from the Prime Minister of South Africa'stating that the Union Government is prepared! to send a crew fron; South Africa to man the steamer Apolda, now held up at Bunbury, if adequate protection is guaranteed to. the men. Hie message concluded with the statement that unless protection is guaranteed to South African ships calling at Australia, his Government would have no alternative but to consider cancellation of sailings.

POSSIBILITY OF TROUBLE. FARMERS DESIRE TO LOAD COAL (Received October 29th, 10.30 p.m.) BRISBANE, October 29. The watc-rsiders to-day put sufficient coal aboard the Mahia to keep the refrigerators going. Tho police have Withdrawn from tho ship, and all is now quiet, but further trouble is possible, owing to tho farmers, who still throng the town, expressing a desiro to put aboard all tho coal tho Mahia requires for her bunkers. TTio polico arc still on tho jetty, and it is understood they have been instructed to provent the farmers from attempting to reach the jetty. Tho steamer Somerset sailed from Townsvilie for Sydney with a full cargo. Fearing possible trouble, five carloads of police were rushed to tho wharf, but they wero not required; the strikers made no attempt to interfere. The steamers Berrima and Sophocles have sailed from Melbourne for Sydney, both crews remaining loyal. STRIKERS SENT TO ENGLAND. (reuter's telegrams.) (Received October 2Dth, 10.30 p.m.) CAPE TOWN, October 2S. Two* hundred and sixty strikers wero repatriated by the Balmoral Castle. No trouble, was experienced. It is expected that all the strikers will be repatriated in a few days. MEN REJOIN SHIP. TREFUSIS CLEARS AUCKLAND. i.r?.ES3 ASSOCIATION TELEJSAiI.'I AUCKLAND, October 29. Following upon the strike beinjr declared off, the local strikers have been advised by their officials to return to their shins, where possible. The only vessel at Auckland affected bv tho strike was the Trefusis in which eleven members of the crew refused duty yesterday morning, and in the afternoon were sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment. Tho owners decided to give the men in prison an opportunity of returning to duty. they accepted and were released from prison, sailing in the Trefusis "for Wellington at 0.-10 to-night. There are now about 220 strikers in Mount Edeu Gao£