SHIPPING DISPUTES

Evening Star, Issue 19026, 22 August 1925, Page 6

SHIPPING DISPUTES

BRITISH SEAMEN IN AUSTRALIAN PORTS INTERFERENCE RESENTED Frees Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. LONDON, August 21. (Received August 22, at 11.15 a.ra.) The ship owners and also the Seamen’s Union have cabled to Mr Bruce protesting against Australian extremists intimidating the crews of British ships in Australian ports with a view to compelling them to resist a reduction in wages. Already 50,000 British seamen have accepted the reduction without protest. The only trouble has occurred in the Australian lines.

Mr Havelock Wilson points out that a majority of the seamen admit the justice of the reduction, which had be«n introduced in all current articles, just as the increase in wages was introduced in 1924. The obstructionist methods of the Australian Reds (he says) are tending to spread the trouble, to vessels in the Australian trade lying in British porta. Mr. Havelock Wilson’s cable emphasises that the Australian seamen were not affected by appeals from Mr Bruce to restrain Mi- Walsh from interfering, because the movement menaces and prejudices the British Union, which is upholding the principles for which it lias struggled for forty years. The unwarranted intervention by Australians constitutes an act of treachery to the whole trade movement. ' The ship owners appeal to Mr Bruce to take all steps to prevent Australians from illegally intimidating British sailors and persuading them to repudiate their agreement.—Sydney ' Sun ' Cable. SHIPS HELD UP. PLATING INTO THE HANDS OP THE FOREIGNER. SYDNEY, August 22. (Received August 22, at 11.30 a.m.) Intending passengers by the steamer Themistocles for Loudon, which was due to sail yesterday, were forced to come ashore owing to the absence of cooks and stewards. The officers had to pjpvido their own meals. The passengers wore told that the vessel might sail to-day. When the crew of the Port Darwin refused duty the vessel was taken into the stream, but she could not sail. Vessels manned by colored crews nro not so far affected. Four steamers, including the Rimutaka, which recently arrived from New Zealand, are involved at Brisbane. At Port Adelaide three vessels are affected, including the Inknm, the crew of which is demanding Australian rates. An important aspect of the dispute is that British lines are being penalised while foreign lines are enabled to secure cargo and are offering to sail. Gorman, Dutch, Norwegian, and Italian ships are sailing to-day, while British ships are-unable to lift the cargo booked.

The Commonwealth Lino is not affected.