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Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 141, 11 December 1935, Page 11

Regulations to license the seamen were approved by the Federal Cabinet at Canberra today. Today's meeting was attended by 1500 seamen, and it instructed Mr. C. Herbert, tlie branch secretary, to take immediate steps through the High Court to obtain an injunction restraining the Federal Arbitration Court from putting into operation the new award. ENFORCED IDLENESS. The Sydney seamen's decision today is binding on all the other branches, resulting in the enforced idleness of marine stewards, waterside workers, cooks, and thousands engaged in subsidiary industries. It is certain also that many northern coal mines will be unable to comply with interstate contracts. The marine stewards decided not to become involved in the strike. A message from Canberra stating that regulations bringing the seamen under the provisions of the Transport Workers Act were gazetted today, adds that the Prime Minister, Mr. Lyons, said the Act would apply to Melbourne and Sydney at present and would be extended to other ports if necessary. Shipping companies report an excellent response to their advertisements for volunteers, men offering freely personally and by letter. Approximately 500 men offered in Sydney and Melbourne today, including a number of ex-naval men anxious to return to sea. Hopes are entertained that four large freighters will be dispatched from Sydney by the weekend.' MINERS' SUPPORT. Mr. T. Hoare, president of the Northern Miners' Federation, Newcastle, announced that a telegram had been sent to the Sydney seamen's meeting today assuring them of the miners' support and refusal to produce coal for ships manned-by volunteer labour. The northern miners also pledged themselves to do everything humanly possible to resist the application of the Federal Crimes Act to seamen, and, if necessary, to "involve Australia in something bigger than had previously taken place." Mr. Hoare informed interviewers that the coalminers to a man were behind the seamen. If necessary they would extend the strike to every industry using coal. This, of course, would cause general chaos, but he was hopeful that it would open a new era for those producing the world's wealth. Meanwhile the coalminers looked upon the seamen as the occupiers of the front trenches and deserving of the solid support of their fellowunionists.