UNRULY MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 48, 24 August 1935, Page 9

UNRULY MEETING

STRIKING SEAMEN

NO. DECISION REACHED

VESSELS STILL IDLE

United Press Association—By Electric Teleeraph—Copyright.- . • ■'■'.• > SYDNEY, August 23. No decision was reached by a : mass meeting of seamen at Sydney today. The meeting closed in an uproar and was adjourned till 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. As far as can be ascertained militants and. moderates were almost ■ equally represented at the meeting which was most unwieldy. Dissent with the chairman's rulings was recorded on two occasions. Mr. Jacob Johnson, the Federal secretary, submitted a motion for acceptance of the ship owners' terms to the effect that if the ships were immediately manned no notice would be takea of indifferent discharges provided the men offering were recognised as capable. An amendment for rejection of the terms and instructing the committee of Jfianagement to submit again the terms laid down at- the compulsory conference of seamen, although; described by the chairman, Mr. "W. Clarkd, the Federal president, as a .direct negation of the motion, was discussed, together with the motion, in the noisiest fashion. ' . ..'■MULTIPLE VOTING. Officials found- it impossible to" obtain the true' strength of-the yote'bcv cause of the pandemonium and allegedly because of some men passing the tellers on three or four occasions. The chairman refused to announce the result of the vote. The meeting ended in disorder. ."■' ■ ■ • ■"> The ship owners are greatly surprised: at the outcome, as practically all,the affected companies' had vessels ready^ for sea. The Wanganella .was expected to sail tonight. If circumstances, permit she will sail tomorrow night at 8 o'clock. A call today for a crew for the Islands steamer Malaita failed. The steamer. Omana sailed today for New Zealand; via Melbourne. . ■ . The Trades and Labour Council permitted wharf labourers "to; handle tha cargo of the James Patrick steamer Craigend, which earlier in the week was manned by volunteer labour. TALK OF FREE LABOUJJ. It was reliably stated tonight that it a settlement is not leached tomorrow, ship owners will proceed to engage free labour r but before doing so will seek the assistance of the Commonwealth. Government in affording protection at wharves. and their homes to men sat employed. ■- .-. :■■■ .;.