SEAMEN REFUSE DUTIES

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26123, 27 May 1950, Page 7

SEAMEN REFUSE DUTIES

Newcastle And Melbourne RETALIATION TO LOGGING (N.Z. Pres's Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 26. Seamen aboard 17 Australian ships in Melbourne and seamen at Newcastle have refused to take their vessels to sea. This action, which wag said to be ordered by the Victorian branch of the Australian Seamen’s Union, is in retaliation to the fines imposed by shipowners on the men for taking part in an unauthorised stopwork meeting on Tuesday to discuss the Federal Government's anti-Com-munist Bill. The action at Newcastle was the result of an unconfirmed rumour that the Victorian secretary of the Seamen’s Union (Mr W. Bird) had been summoned to appear before Court. Seamen walked off ships scheduled to leave for Melbourne and said they would remain out pending the outcome of reported Melbourne developments. The whole dispute has been referred to the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr Hamilton Knight), who has called a compulsory conference in Melbourne. Mr Bird said: “T have a surprise up my sleeve that will cost the shipowners more than the £l2 fines they have imposed on some seamen." Sydney seamen are reported to be resentful of the Communist attempts to embroil them in the strike. In Canberra, the Minister of Labour (Mr H. Holt) said that the Federal Government was • closely watching waterfront developments and would take action if necessary. The only other protest against the fining of the men occurred in Newcastle where the crews of the Broken Hill Proprietary ships. Iron Warrior and Iron Duke, gave 24 hours’ notice. Under the Navigation Act masters of ships on the Australian coast have power to fine seamen two days’ pay if they take part in an unauthorised stoppage.

Drastic gas restrictions will be imposed in Melbourne from midnight tonight &s the first result of the stoppages.