'U.K. Strike Could Last Another Month’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31069, 26 May 1966, Page 13

' U.K. Strike Could Last Another Month’

(N.Z.P.A Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, May 25.

The leader of Britain’s striking seamen forecast yesterday that their crippling strike could last another month—with unpredictable effects on the economy.

At a strikers' meeting, the seamen's leader, Mr William Hogarth, forecast a long drawn-out dispute as officials of his union claimed that 16.000 men had stopped work, mak- * ing 520 ships idle. The strike is now in its ninth day. Foreign vessels carrying food and vital materials lined the Thames down to the sea, and the Royal Navy stood ready to tow away idle ships if necessary to enable for-j

eign vessels with vital sup plies to reach unloading docks. Affected vessels include the dollar-earning luxury liners Queen Elizabeth .-.nd Queen Mary, which normally would be entering their busiest pas senger-carrying season now. PORTS JAMMED Ten other liners have been hit. in addition to the hundreds of smaller vessels jamming the major ports of London. Southampton, Liverpool. Glasgow 7 and Bristol.

The British Government hesitated to invoke the emergency powers decreed on Monday Official sources said I no action by the armed forces | would be taken at least be-1 fore the end of this week, for) fear that precipitate action might provoke new stop pages, especially among the dockers, who are already restive. DOCKERS MEET Their unofficial leader, Mr Jack Dash, who is a Communist, urged the dockers at a mass meeting yesterday to avoid immediate strike action, though he said the seamen’s stoppage might throw many of them out of work within days. He urged them to spurn irresponsible appeals by “extreme Left-wing” elements. The seaman struck in support of demands for a 40hour week, instead of the present 56 hours. Rejecting their demand, the shipowners said it represented a £36 million, or 17 per cent, increase in costs.

The State of Emergency Order empowers the Govern-

ment to keep trade flowing in Britain, which imports twothirds of all its food and materials. Under the Order, food prices may be pegged and any interference with essential services declared to be an act of sabotage.