AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING STRIKE

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 August 1935, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING STRIKE

MORE SHIPS IDLED '

TRAWLER CARRIES N.Z. MAILS

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. COPYRIGHT.)

SYDNEY, August 9.

The Union Company’s steamer Talune, on to which the “Zealandia’s” cargo has been loaded, was unable to sail for Hobart to-day, because of the last-minute absence of two members of her crew. The other members of the crew' refused to take the ship to sea shorthanded.

Yesterday the Talune’s crew gave twenty-four hours’ notice, and the notice expired this afternoon. The vessel’s sailing is postponed.

The missing members of her crew returned to the Talune, and at 3 p.m. they gathered their clothes and left the ship. The captain of the Talune had a long talk with the men on the wharf, and whjle this was going on, two others ieft (he ship, taking their belongings. .... A further call for a prew was made at 3 p.m.' blit it was not successful. Thereafter, the vessel’s sailing was postponed. Another attempt to obtain a crew will be made to-morrow, but it is regarded as hopeless. It w r as announced this afternoon the two calls for a crew for the freighter Mildura had also been unsuccessful. The vessel’s departure for Melbourne has been postponed.

WANGANELLA INVOLVED

MELBOURNE, August 9

The Wanganella has left for Sydney but her crew intend, to-night, to give twenty-four hours’ notice which means that they will leave the ship upon her arrival at Sydney on Sunday.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S ACTION

(Recd. August 10, 8 a.m.) ' MELBOURNE, August 9. Senator Bernan, Acting Federal At-torney-General, after conferring with shipping authorities, said that ifthe Talune and Zealandia failed to sail by Mondav, the Federal Government would immediately determine the course of action and probably institute a system of licensing seamen, as m the case of watersiders. Authorities on maritime law declared the basic case for shipowners is that they are again defending their legal and ethical right of free selection which is challenged by the Seamen’s Union. This must be considered apart from any justification of sympathy for firemen who have been irefused employment on the Zealandia. Fears are expressed that the strike is likely to spread to the Tasmania passenger service, involving the Nairana and Taroona.

CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE. (Recd. August 10,' 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, August 10. Last night, at sea, the cre 4 w . of Wanganella notified the captain that they would tie up the vessel in Sydney on Sunday. ' > ‘ For the first time m Australian marine history, a trawler became a mail steamer, the Alfie Cam leaving Sydney last night with a lu ”jdred bags of mail for New Zealand, Ayiag the Royal Mail pennant. The Alfie Cam was only seven miles out when a steam pipe blew out. She was forced to return, but sailed again later. She is expected to reach New Zealand in five days. Postal officials state that the trawler was used because she will be in New Zealand before any of the regular liners. This shipping dispute occurred, states a Melbourne message, over £lO, which the Seamen’s Union says should have been distributed among twentyfive members of the crew of the Murda, as overtime and deferred sailing-time’ pay. When the company refused to pay, the crew refused to obey orders and was dismissed and given endorsed discharges. When a man presenting a Murda discharge certificate was rejected for employment in Sydney on Zealandia, this vessel was held up. The Murda is now tied up at Melbourne. A statement from the Australian Steamship Owners’ Federation alleged that the Union was resorting to illegal action to enforce its claims, and is a distinct breach of the agreement which provides that all disputes be referred to the Board of Conciliation.