ARRESTED.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18545, 21 November 1925, Page 15

ARRESTED.

STRIKE LEADERS IN CUSTODY. DEPORTATION PENDING. FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ACT. (by CAlLlS—r»iss ASSOCIATIOX—COPTB.IGHT.) Uustbaua;; and n.e. cable association.; SYDNEY, November 20. Acting on the recommendation of the Deportation Board, Federal authorities arrested Messrs Tom Walsh, president, and Jacob Johannsen, secretary, of the Australian Seamen's Union, pending their deportation. Later in the day counsel for the arrested men lodged an application in the Full Court for a writ of habeas corpus on their behalf in a final effort to prevent their deportation. BOARD'S FINDING. "FAILED TO SHOW CAUSE." (AUSTRALIAN AVO H.Z. CAIL* ASSOCIATION.) (Received November 20tb, 7.15 p.m.) MELBOURNE, November 20. Mr Bruce made the following statement to-day:— "The Deportation Board lias found that Walsh and Johannsen have been concerned in acts directed towards hindering or obstructing to the prejudice of the public, the transport of goods or the conveyance of passengers in relation to trade or commerce with other countries; that their presence iu Australia will be injurious to peace, order, or the good government of the CommonWealth, and that they failed to show cause why they should not be deported. "The Board has accordingly recommended their deportation, and they are now in civil custody awaiting deportation." He added that the Government would be willing to pay the passages of the wives and children of the deportees to their destination, also iu the meantime to grant them a sustenance allowance. GENERAL STRIKE POSSIBLE. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received November 20th, 7.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, November 20. Tho sudden action in connexion with Walsh and Johannsen did not come altogether as a surprise. Rumours have been current since tho olection returns shaped themselves towards a Nationalist victory, of a probable early move and that militant unions were preparing for what lias now happened. What the intention of the militant unions are now that the blow has fallen, remains to be Been, but threats ox a general strike have been freely made. Walsh and Johannsen were quietly arrested at their homes early in the morning, and were removed to .Garden Island. This is taken to suggest that the Navy may convey them from Australia as soon, as the Full Court has met. INTERFERENCE ALLEGED. POLICEfAND POLITICIANS. (iUSTXALIAK Aim JM. CA»U association) PERTH, November 20. The Police Association, in the course of a statement protesting against tho Government's refusal to grant a pensions scheme, makes serious reference to the recent riot at Frem&ntle, when strikers attacked the police. The statement alleges that the police were told not to use their revolvers unless they were in imminent danger. Ministerial sanction ad to bo obtained before the police could defend their persons, and the result was that several police were seriously injured. The statement proceods: The Government of the day. should, lay down the dictum that if the Police Force is to be inflaehced by Governments and Ministers, as it has been during recent years at Fremantle, as to the methods wbioh it 6hould use to defend the property and lives of people, the police should be afforded some guarantee against the ever-present risks of being ham-strung; by the Government's edicts. The statement concludes:— Apparently the policy of the Minister in charge of the police is to arm the police with velvet gloves instead of competent weapons. It is questionable* whether the police will rush into thei oesrt affray, in view of the manner in which strikers were dealt with by the Magistrates on this occasion. [Tho captain of tho Borda, at Fremantle, applied for police protection while steam was being raised, and a party of police was stationed on the vessel, wrale others remained en the wharf. Hearing of this, striking British. seamen gathered on the wharf, armed with hammers, iron bars and short lengths of wood. A grave conflict ensued, in which tho police were bombarded with lumps of coal, and ai battle raged for some time ; on the waterfront and on a neighbouring steamer, the Argyllshire. Many suffered cracked skulls, bruises, and cuts. Sixty-five arrests were made. The seamen who were arrested were brought before the Court in batches and fined £O. An exception was made in the case of two youths under 18, who were cautioned. The shipping agents paid the fines, to enable the? men to rejoia their ships J STEAMERS DELAYED. FREMANTLE, November 20. The Karoola has been further delayed at thd* men refusing to sign on under the conditions offered by the owners. SYDNEY, November 29. Several members of the crew of the Barrabool wero absent at sailing time and the vessel's departure lias been indefinitely delayed.