SEAMEN'S STRIKE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20381, 30 October 1931, Page 15

SEAMEN'S STRIKE.

* MASS MEETING FAVOURS EXTENSION. CALL TO CEASE WORK. TRESS ASSOCIATION'—HX ELECT BW TELEGEAPiI—COPYRI3UT.) (Received October 29th, S.l>j p.m.) SYDNEY, October 29. At another j ndss meeting of the Sydney Seamen's Union to-day, a mo* fcion sponsored by tho militant faction calling on all members employed m mter-Stato * ships to ccaso work at tor twenty-four hours' notice, which is btJ;ng given immediately, was carried. The decision involves every interstate vessel and is believed to include tilg Ulimaroa, Niagara, and Aorangi, also the ships controlled by Burns, Philp, and Company. The moderate 'section fought the motion, but wero greatly outnumbered. The meeting was not nearly so disorderly as tho previous two meetings, owing'to at; understanding among the loaders of the various factions to restrain their followers from heckling «nd interrupting. Tho shipowners received no response this afternoon when they called io.r ■rows for the W'estralia, Ormiston, Nacumba, and Wear. A report has been received from Adelaide that the local seamen will ignore tho Sydney decision'for a general strike, and accordingly will man ill ships, excepting the Canberra. Fourteen vessels already are laid up iri various ports. Tho shipowners are considering the position at Melbourne to-day, and a ital decision is expected shortly. Call for Volunteer Labour. The inter-State steamship owners, having decided to call for volunteer crows, sent a telegram to the J'rimo Minister, Mr J. H. Scullin, to-night asking whether he vVouhl honour his undertaking to afford protection for those who respond. Advico was received from Adelaide to-night that union crews had been provided for the Karoola and also for the freighter Goulburn. The strike is now practically confined to Sydney and Newcastle ports. Support for Strike. A thousand delegates from the Trades Union's political and industrial wings decided to support the seamen in a general waterfront strike, providing pickets and refusing to handle cargo, and reorganising the workers' defence corps in order to combat the New Guard. UNION LINERS INVOLVED.

SHIPOWNERS' ULTIMATUM

(Received October 29th, 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 29. The seamen's decision extending the dispute to all ships on Australian articles excepting inter-State vessels caused the greatest surprise, the general belief being that the moderates would be able to bring about its collapse. A special meeting is being held in the Communist Hall to-morrow to appoint a new strike committee. It is now definitely stated that the Ulimaroa, the Niagara, and the Aorangi will be brought within the scope of the strike. Late this afternoon the shipowners sent an ultimatum to the general secretary of the Seamen's Union insisting that crews bo supplied by to-morrow, otherwise the owners would take steps to obtain crews wherever possible.