AUSTRALIAN SEAMEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 October 1931, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN SEAMEN

ROWDY SCENES AT MEETING STRIKE MOTION DEFEATED [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.] SYDNEY, October 27. The seamen’s mass meeting in the basement of the Town Hall, to-day, ended abruptly in pandemonium. One section, dominated by the “Reds,” supported a motion for the extension of the strike to small vessels, both State and inter-State. Another section, consisting of the moderates, clamoured for the resumption of work. Hoots, free fights, and violent language prevented anything in the nature of a proper understanding being reached. The Chairman (Mr. Loveday) finally declared the motion extending the strike carried, and then left the meeting. The moderates repudiated his ruling. Uproarious scenes occurred and a substitute chairman, Mr. W. Herbert, announced that a further meeting would be held to-morrow, when a further vote would be obtained. , LATER. It was ascertained that the motion to extend the strike was actually defeated by a substantial majority of the seamen at the Town Hall meeting, but the Chairman declined to accept the decision, this resulting in the meeting breaking up in disorder. The passenger liner Orungal sailed to-day with a full crew. The vessel’s departure was effected in the sanre manner as the Manunda’s on Saturday. The strikers were thus outwitted.

MELBOURNE MEN’S DEMANDS. MELBOURNE, October 27. The seamen resolved not to agree to an extension of the strike, but are prepared to confine the dispute to the steamer Canberra. They are making fresh demands on shipowners including the restoration of the ten per cent cut in wages. The „ steamer Manunda sailed for Adelaide with a full crew. AT OTHER CENTRES. SYDNEY, October 28. The Newcastle seamen’s meeting decided to continue the shipping strike. At Brisbane, it was resolved that the dispute be confined to the liner Canberra, but the men favoured a general strike in the absence of a satisfactory settlement. At Port Adelaide and Fremantle, the seamen opposed a continuance of the strike, but are awaiting the decisions of other/ States. COMMUNIST ACTIVITY. WELLINGTON, October 27. “We got away without a hitch,” said Captain Darrock, master of the Ulimaroa, which arrived to-day from Sydney, “but I would not like to say the shipping trouble is over yet. There are so many unemployed and Communist agents that it is impossible to say what will happen.”