THE HOBSON’S BAY

Evening Star, Issue 17956, 1 May 1922, Page 4

THE HOBSON’S BAY

FULL CREW OBTAINED, Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and K.Z. Press Association. SYDNEY, April 29. The .Hobson’s Bay lias secured a crew and sailed. A trial of strength between the Australian Seamen’s Union and the management of the Australian Shipping Line appears to he inevitable (said the ‘ Australasian’ recently). The s.s, Hobson's Bay lias arrived in Australia with a crew, iO per cent, of whom arc members of maritime unions in Australia. The remaining 50 per cent, have no friends. It is discreditable that it should be thus taken for granted that these men, who are mem burs of union.', in Great Britain, have no right to regular employment on Australian ships, hut such is the Ministerial policy to which the management jurist give elleet. An intolerable situation is, ' however, created! when the union in Australia demands that the whole of the crew is to be discharged in Sydney, and that the Hobsons Bay in to be remunned by a crew nominated by I the union bosses in ,Sydney. Unit is an audacious attempt to usurp toe management of the line, and if it were successful (he Government line must break down. This arrogant procedure on the part of the union is ostensibly to give employment to Australians. The excuse is an impudent subterfuge. Unemployment cannot bo cured by displacing one set of Australian .seamen to make room for others; but unemployment will most certainly be aggro vated" if the C. inmonwcaitli is compelled ,to Jay by some of its ships. 'Die union autocrats do not care hi lire least about employment or unemployment, 'i heir sim is to’ get control of the ships, and in pursuit of that purpose they arc not particular whether a. few hundred men (moro or less) lose 1 heir jobs. Industrial i junkerbin,- is no more solicitous about the wellbeing of individuals than was German jnnkerism. Human beings are thrown out of work so that the tribe of agitators may flourish. The best thing the Government can do. for its own credit, is to abandon the shipping business altogether.