The Evening Star THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1946. STRANDED IN SYDNEY.

Evening Star, Issue 25699, 24 January 1946, Page 4

The Evening Star THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1946. STRANDED IN SYDNEY.

An extraordinary situation of strike and counter-strike, typical of the chaotic industrial conditions prevailing in Australia, and particularly on the waterfront, has surrounded more than 500 New Zealanders who should have been 'back in New Zealand by now, but who are stranded in Sydney. They are merely a quarter of the number of people from the Dominion who are oVsperately anxious to get back to their own country from Australia, but their hopes of an early passage must be fading as each new move by Communist elements in maritime trade unions delays still further their passage. The Katoomba was scheduled to sail' from Sydney last Friday, but the firemen declined to take.the vessel to sea'unless a crew of twenty-four was provided for the stokehold. Under an arrangement between the Seamen's Union and« the Maritime Industry Commission three fewer firemen are carried on a trip across the Tasman than in the tropics. For this voyage, however, the firemen decided that they would have a crew of twenty-four, instead of twenty-one in terms of the agreement. The passengers arrived on the wharf, but the trip was postponed from time ijo time while negotiations proceeded. Finally the New Zealanders were allowed on board, and although the authorities cancelled the trip, they refused to leave the ship because their chances of securing accommodation in overcrowded Sydney were extremely remote. This action might be described as the first counter-move in a strange series. The waterside workers, who could not be expected to remain for long on the outside looking in at such a happy hunting ground, then addeil to the complications. The opportunity for a dispute was too good to miss, and so they declined to handle the Kateomba's cargo for transfer to a cargo vessel bound for New Zealand, or the passengers' luggage, . until a relief passenger ship is berthed alongside. ' The waterside workers' intervention was destined primarily to support the firemen in their arbitrary demand for an increase in . their numbers, but their spokesmen have been assiduous in their expressions of sympathy for the stranded passengers, expressing their anxiety lest those unfortunate New Zealanders s,hould be sent off the Katoomba'to walk the inhospitable Sydney streets. This is sheer hypocrisy, and it is unlikely that the passengers will be sympathetic with the originators of the dispute, or the large number of waterside workers who now threaten to hold up all activity at the port in support of it. The passengers were apparently prepared to take up a collection to pay the £6O required to supply three extra firemen for the voyage, but they were politely told by the authorities that they would not be allowed to intervene. They are the principal victims of that wanton disregard for the convenience of, others which appears to dominate all the numerous industrial disputes in manycountries at the^present time. Fortunately; they are being allowed to remain'on the vessel at Government expense. The feelings- of the other 1,500 New Zealanders stranded in Australia can well be imagined. As day succeeds day, and a perfectly good passenger ship lies idle, they must realise that their own prospects of obtaining an early passage to the Dominion are more remote. The members of the two unions principally concerned appear to be in a thoroughly unruly mood, and willing to tie up both coastal and overseas shipping. New Zealand foundries, which are extremely short of pig iron and steel, will have to wait longer, because the vessel which was to bring the much-needed supplies is held up with a cargo from the Dominion. The unionists have even passed a vote of no-confidence in their elected executive, so with dissension in their own ranks there is scant prospect of an early settlement of a dispute which promises to causs very considerable in—- | convenience on both sides of the Tasinan. t