STRONGER PICKETS

Evening Post, Issue 149, 20 December 1935, Page 7

STRONGER PICKETS

THE SEAMEN'S STRIKE

UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENT

INTERSTATE VESSEL INVOLVED

Unltod Press Association—By Electric Tolegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, December 19. Strike pickets were strengthened today on the waterfront in view of the endeavours of the shipping companies to obtain crews ' for . the interstate passenger liners. An unexpected development occurred when a collier became involved in the strike. The crew of the ship, without explanation, gave notice on the vessel's arrival at Sydney with a cargo of.coal for the Australian Gaslight Company. This is the first interstate vessel that has been drawn into the dispute. A marine steward who assaulted a volunteer seaman outside a shipping office was sentenced today to a month's imprisonment. The Sydney markets are glutted with soft drinks owing to the .strike. Thousands of--cases of fruit intended for other States are selling at ruinous prices, while shipments from Tasmania have missed the Christmas buying activity. WARNING REPEATED. The Federal Attorney-General, the Hon. H. G. Menzies, had a conference at Melbourne today with delegates of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, who asked for the withdrawal of'the licensing of seamen in order to facilitate negotiations for a settlement. Mr. Menzies's reply was similar to that cabled yesterday. He also reminded the delegates that they had everything to gain from a powerful Arbitration Court system practically of their own making. He therefore hoped that the Council of Trade Unilpns would not lightly support a strike which had its origin in the rejection of the Court's decision and authority. A Sydney cablegram published yesterday stated that Mr. Menzies warned the seamen's central strike committee" that the Government would not withdraw the licensing system. "We have set up an Arbitration Court to deal with the merits of the dispute, and the Government's first duty is to uphold the law," said Mr. Menzies. "The Government will not tolerate the idea that re"sort can be made to the Arbitration Court for what suits you, and that the industry of the Commonwealth can be thrown into chaos if an award does not suit you." >. : v