FORM FOURS; RIGHT TURN

Evening Star, Issue 18136, 28 November 1922, Page 7

FORM FOURS; RIGHT TURN

STRIKERS MARCH TO GAOL. HAPPY ENDING TO ORVIETO TROUBLE. The arrest at Port Alelbourne on NoTimber lo of 162 stewards, cooks, and pantrymen from the Orvieto (on a charge , of being absent without leave), . their model behaviour, and' tho happy ending to the trouble in court are described in the ‘ Argus ’ of November .14. When tho police arrived at Port Melbourne the men were loitering, about on the beach neft-r. the pier anti under verandahs in the main street. Word had reached them that warrants for their , arrest had been taken out, but they made no demonstration. Sub-inspector Stephens .was in charge of the police, and he conferred with soma of the men, who said l that they were expecting word 1 from their delegates as to the result of the conference between representatives of the Orient Company and of the Firemen’ and Seamen’s Union. It was then 3 o’clock, and the men asked to be given until 4 o’clock, in the hope that in the meaatimo they would be notified that the dispute was at an end. The men promised that if they did not hear from their delegates by 4 o’clock they would all assemble for arrest. Shortly before 4 o’clock five, men, whose impatience was apparent, decided to hold a meeting on some vacant land adjoining tho pier. Tho assemblage consisted principally of stewards, with a few firemen and seamen. The chief spokesman was Air J. Butcher, a steward, who prefaced his remarks by stating that he had been in . the employ of tho Orient Company for eighteen years, and had been on the Orvieto for three and a-half years. “You men have now to decide whether you will return (o tho steamer or go to gaol,” ho declared. AH’ Butcher went on to say that at a conference held in the morning between representatives of Hie Orient "Company and of tho Firemen and Seamen’s Union the chief question discussed was that of the interstate passengers on board the Orvieto: bub this tremolo bad been overcome by the passengers voluntarily leaving the steamer. He had been given to understand that the company had promised that there would bo no victimisation, and that tho whole of the men would be 1 given perfectly clean discharges when they finally left the Orvieto. “What the company' will not promise is that you men will not. be prosecuted when you. return to England, and that -is the promise you want,” said Air Butcher. “ You will lose pay for the days on which you have been on thorp.” “We quite expected that,” said the men in chorus. Mr Butcher told the men it wan for them to cay whether they would return -to the steamer and risk prosecution when they reached England, or whether they would quietly submit to arrest for not returning to work. An officer of the company addressed the men. He said that he was really there to | identify the men for whom warrants- had been ismied, and lie strongly advised them to go back to the steamer. “If you ate arrested you will be placed on- board, and | it you then re-fuse to, work that will bel 1 mutiny, the punishment for which is two years' imprisonment,” he saidi* The officer also told the men -that the company had , given a definite promise that there would bo no victimisation, and that clean discharges would be given. The company’s representatives at this end could not give a guarantee that there would not be prosecution, when -the steamer readied England ; but personally ho did not believe that there would bo any further action if tho men returned to work. MEN FAVOR GAOL. Atr Butcher then announced that he would take a vote to seo if a majority of tho men were in favor of returning to tho steamer. “ What about tho firemen and tho seamen ? ” asked one of tho crew. “ There are very few of them bore,” answered Air Butcher. “Never mind, we will take a vote. Let -all those who wish to return to work -go across to the left.” Not a man moved from his place. Air Butcher gave the men another opportunity, but, the result was tho same.“Very well,” he declared, “the police have come here to do their duty, and I know it .is very unpleasant for them. I want no 1 monkeying,’ and if there is any of it I shall go right back to- the steamer, and you can do what you liko.” The police, who had been interested spectators at the meeting, then cscortcdi several of tho men- to tho motor cars standing by. Air Butcher suggested that about a. dozen of tho loaders should be placed under arrest, in -order to test tho matter in court. Tho police, however, would l not agree to this. “ Then let us march quietly in a body to tho watch-house,” said Mr Butcher, and the police acquiesced. “fall in!” commanded Air Butcher in a loud voice, and in Jess than a. minute tho men had formed into double lines. “Number off from tho left,” was the next order. When this was obeyed it was found that there were 120 men- present. Other commands—“ Form fours,” “ Right turn,” “Quick march!” were responded to with alacrity, andi singing heartily “ Pack up your troubles in your -old kit bag and smile, smile, smile,” the men- proceeded along the street in the direction of the Port Alelbourne watclihouse, a quarter of a mile -away. Plain-clothes constables marched, with tho men,, who, as they swung into Graham street, lustily sang “Sons of the sea, all British born.” When the wa-lchhouss was reached each man responded when his name was read out. It took tho watebhouso-keopers Gome lime to enter up the charges. In tho court later, Mr Woods, for the prosecution, eai dthat the -position was that the Orvieto was still delayed, although the main bono of contention had disappeared. Tho next matter which most concerned the men was an assurance that they would nob ho “victimised,” and he believed that they were now satisfied in that direction also. He had been instructed not to press for a penalty, provided that the men were prepared to return to the ship and resume duties. The owners were anxious tha-t the ship should resume her coutse. He thought tho men now realised that they had been misled to a certain extent by outside influences. They must realise that if they did return to the ship they must lose their pay for the time that thev had been absent without leave, but tfiere would not be any victimisation or blacklisting. They had an assurance to this effect in writing. Formal -evidence in -support of the charge waa given by three of the ship’s officers. Mr Tcstro (to the men) ; Are you all ready to go back on board? Shouts of “Yes, sir! ” Mr Testro : Very well. then. I am very ) glad that you have come to jour senses, and are not going to listen any more to other people outside who have- their own axe to grind—T have uo doubt about that. I may tell you that, as t am dealing with you here, yon cannot- be charged again at the other end'—l'll see to that. Go back to your ship and work, and you will he all right. Air Woods suggested that., as the men had wanted a- guarantee that there would bo no further -prosecution when the vessel reached England, the present prosecution should be entered in the ship’s log. lo this tire Bench -agreed. The men 1 willingly undertook to return to their duties, and ’were accordingly ordered to do so by the Bench. After tho proceedings the men were mustered outride, and after a. roll-call, marched to the wharf, whore they boarded a tender, and were conveyed to the ship.

Complaints had been rife in the- United States -concerning the delinquencies of the post, but one man thought it was efficient, and proved hia point- A building -trades exhibition was being held in a certain town, so he took down his own speciallyhuilt house, made a separate pa,reel of every brick, -posted them addressed to himself ait the exhibition, and there reerected the building -as “Tho House that Came by Post.” The post office was vindicated, for every brick arrived, and his own business acumen enabled him to take full advantage of the splendid advertisement.