SHIPPING STRIKE CONTINUES

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21652, 10 December 1935, Page 13

SHIPPING STRIKE CONTINUES

* No Apparent Effect Of Ultimatum ' j firm intentions EXPRESSED i | FIFTY-THREE SHIPS NOW HELD UL' i (run ED I'KJSSS ASSULIATIOK-COPTKiGHT.) t (Received December 9, 9 p.m.) SYDNEY, December 9. Contrary to expectations, there is no immediate sign of the seamen returning to work, in spite of the Government's ultimatum. The strike committee of the Sydney branch of the Seamen's Union met to-day and convened a mass meeting for to-morrow. The Melbourne seamen held a mass meeting to-day, and decided to continue the strike until Mr Jacob! Johnson, general secretary of the j union, reported back from Sydney, j at the same time expressing the in- ! tention. to abide by the decision of i the Sydney seamen to-morrow. The j meeting also decided that no mem- | ber of the union should take out a j transport worker's license. j The strike committee of the Sydney branch passed a resolution expressing strong resentment at the "provocative acts of the Federal Government, which threatened t;p compel the seamen to take out licenses." The committee expressed the opinion that such action would be certain to bring about an extension of the dispute. Their statement added, "It is our intention to continue the struggle until the owners agree to meet us in conference on the subject of a new agreement. We are prepared to man the ships under the conditions operating before the new award." At Newcastle the seamen decided in favour of continuing the strike, but at Adelaide and Fremantle the teamen decided to be bound by the majority decision of Melbourne and Sydney. Fifty-three vessels are now tied up at Australian ports, including several large passenger vessels. Five more ships became .idle at Melbourne to-day, and three at Sydney. Holyman's Airways Service have redoubled their efforts to increase the frequencies of services between Melbourne and Tasmania, i it is reported that the ship owners j intend to call for volunteer crews ! in all ports to-morrow, irrespective ; of the outcome of the seamen's; meetings. i The Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons) said to-night that the Federal Executive Council would meet to-morrow to approve and gazette regulations under the Transport Workers Act, which will introduce the licensing of seamen at those ports where work has not been resumed. The number of licenses to be issued would depend on the number of men required to man the idle vessels in any particular port. • Mr Lyons expressed the hope that the men would do the sensible thing at the eleventh hour. Should the Government be compelled to take action it would be due solely to the men themselves. The Government would no longer defer action. It is understood that to-morrow the seamen will ascertain whether they can involve inter-state vessels whose crews are at present working under state awards. STEAMERS' COURSE ALTERED CREWS JOIN STRIKERS AT MELBOURNE (Received December 10, 12.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, December 9. Two Huddart Parker colliers, the Yarra and the Colac, bound from Newcastle for Melbourne at the week-end, attempted to call at Geelong to unload coal, but the crew of each vessel threatened to refuse to supply steam if the voyage was not made direct to Melbourne. The colliers continued direct to Melbourne, and the men, who had given notice at sea, joined the strikers. i