SEAMEN’S STRIKE

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27688, 18 June 1955, Page 7

SEAMEN’S STRIKE

Queen Elizabeth Due Today (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 17. Interest in Britain’s growing seamen’s strike switched today to the western Atlantic where the big Cunard Uner Queen Elisabeth is on its way to Southampton from New York. The striking seamen claimed today they had got a telegram signed “the boys of the Queen Elizabeth” saying: “No mistakes this time. We are with you.** The Queen Elizabeth, of 83,673 tons, is due in Southampton today. She slipped through the strikers’ fingers at her last sailing from Southampton when only 35 of her crew responded to an appeal to join the strikers and were replaced • The seamen struck their biggest blow so far today by tying up the 81,273-ton Cunard liner, Queen Mary. About one-third of the Queen Mary’s 1300 crew went over to the strikers who had sent their Liverpool leader, Mr Les Hargreaves, to Southampton to appeal to them. Mr Hargreaves said later today: “This is now spreading into a national dispute.” The men, who are demanding better living conditions on board the ship, have drawn members of the Cunarder Scythia, of 19,930 tons, into their, strike at Southampton and her sailing today for Canada has been cancelled. Other Cunard liners and ships of the Canadian Pacific Line are held up at Liverpool.

Dockers to Meet In the meantime the leaders of the 19,000 striking dockers in Britain will meet again today to discuss the dispute in which they claim full negotiating rights for their union. About two-fifths of Britain’s dock force is affected by this strike, now nearly four weeks old. The leaders gave no hint after an earlier meeting today that any progress had been made towards settling the strike, which is holding up work on 262 ships in six ports. The “Daily Telegraph’ reported that young men among the striking seamen at Liverpool were angered over callout notices received yesterday. It said the men, who were members of the crew of the Ascania—the first ship held up by the strike—received notices saying that the Administration now regards them as having left the shipping industry. The notices reminded them that they were liable to national service and asked them to state their preference for the army service in which they wish to serve.

Men under 26 in the mercantile navy are excused from liability for national service only as long as they are engaged in that occupation.

Demonstrations In Berlin

(Rec. 12.15 p.m.) BERLIN, June 16. West Berlin police today dispersed three Communist led demonstrations and detained 129 people on the eve of the second anniversary of the 1953 anti-Communist East German rising. Demonstrators from East Berlin distributed leaflets and shouted slogans against the anniversary celebrations. Police estimated that the demonstrators numbered about 1000.

Funeral Of Mercedes ♦ Driver

(Rec. 9 p.m.) PARIS, June 16. Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss stood with bowed heads by a coffin piled high with flowers at the funeral today of their fellow Mercedes driver, Pierre Levegh, who died in the Le Mans race disaster five days ago. The Argentinian world champion and the British driver were among more than 2000 mourners paying their last respects to the 50-year-old French veteran driver, whose Mercedes crashed into the crowd, killing 82 people. Levegh’s widow, who watched her husband die from the Le Mans grandstands, and his mother, were also at the funeral. With Moss and Fangio stood the Mercedes driver, Karl Kling, and Britain’s Lance Macklin, whose Austin-Healey was struck at about 125 miles an hour, by Levegh’s car before the Mercedes smashed into the spectators.

SAFETY RULES IN BRITAIN

(Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, June 16. The Royal Automobile Club, the governing body of the motor racing sport in Britain, announced today that it would review all safety precautions on British tracks. The executive committee made this decision after hearing reports from British delegates who were at Le Mans when the race disaster occurred on June 11.

Viscount Aircraft For U.S.

(Rec. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON. June 16. The first of 60 British Viscount turbopropeller airliners ordered by Capital Airlines, of Washington, left London today on its delivery flight to the United States. The Viscount, the first turbo-prop airliner in world service, will also be the first aircraft of its kind to go into regular service on a domestic airline in the United States.