THE SHIPPING STRIKE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 102, 27 October 1925, Page 2

THE SHIPPING STRIKE

SHIPOWNERS' STATEMENT

GENERAL ATTACK ON INDUSTRY

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, 22nd September

In a letter issued by the chairman of tho Shipping Federation, Mr. F. C. Allen, recalls the circumstances leading, up to the seamen's strike, stating u>nt in reality the move is a reconnaissance iv force in collection with . the general Communist offensive, by direct action, against the existing order of society.. Mr. Allen, Starting at the beginning, narrates that British shipowners dur:i)ig. the,.war agreed to set up a,. Joint Industrial Council—the National Maritime Board—for the regulation of the conditions of employment of men scry-, ing afloat. The board represents 99 per cent, of the owners and over 90 per cent, of the seamen. It has functionedwith complete success for over seven years, during which period the industry has been entirely free from seamen's strikes. During this period the men's representatives have secured numerous benefits for their constituents, and the machinery of the board has always been available for the adjustment of difficulties and the removal of hardships iv connection with the employment of seamen, whoso wages, as compared with pre-war days, have been nearly doubled. LAID UP TONNAGE In May, 1924, an application was put forward for a general increase in pay. The request was sympathetically considered by the shipowners, and although the conditions of. trade in no way warranted an advance, the shipowners, rather than jeopardise their good relations with those whom they employ, decided to discount the future and coilced the demand. It was pointed out," however, by the chairman that the increase was only given in the hope of hotter times ahead, and that, if this hope did not materialise, shipowners would be unable to continue paying the advance. Since that time the condition of the shipping trade has steadily gona from bad to worse. That this is so is clear, as the laid-up British' tonnage in July, 1924, was 470,073 tons, and in July this year 777,179 tons. It became, therefore, essential , to reduce costs in the hope that more ships might be brought into conflnission and more employment become available. After mature consideration the National Maritime Board agreed upon a general reduction in the wages of all ratings t'ci. come into force on Ist August last, this the pay back to the level of May, 1924. The agreement for this roduction was made on 3rd July I,lst. Between that date and 12th August nota word of protest came to the ears of either side. ;:

ATTACK ON THE COMMUNITY As the result of an agitation which began in London, troubles then developed in connection with the engagement of seamen in this country. A few days afterwards, news was received that the crews of vessels—with the honourable exception of the navigating and engineering officers—in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa had, at the instigation of local agitators, refused to take their vessels further.

Undoubtedly, both the shipowners and the seamen are being used ns the medium of an attack which is being delivered at the community as.a whole, states the chairman, submitting that the position is one which calls urgently for tlio immediate and serious consideration of His Majesty's Government. .The tactics' which arc being directed against, the shipping industry 10-dny will to-nior-rmi'lie employed against Rome industry, which is less prepared, until the country is reduced to the unhappy condition which it is the aim of the Com-> tiiunist movement to bi'ina about, states the letter, concluding with the assertion, that until the Executive Governments both in Great Rriain and the Domin- r inns are able to make it possible for men to carry on their lawful'nvocation's tinder agreed conditions, without tlio fear of bodily harm and victimisation from persons often entirely unconnected with their industry, the present position of the country's trado must prow steadily worse until complete paralysis takes place. ' : 85, Fleet street.