AUSTRALIAN SEAMEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1935, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN SEAMEN

“STRIKE” POLICY MAINTAINED

MR. FORBES’ RETURN DELAYED

[BY CABLE —PBESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.)

SYDNEY. August 12.

The seamen at to-day’s meeting reaffirmed the decision to maintain their “black” ban on the Huddart Parker Company’s ships until the “Zealandia" trouble had been adjusted, and they also decided to extend the trouble if the men who were offered first as ••pick ups” are not accepted because of their having unsatisfactory discharges. The ships now affected in Sydney are the Zealandia. Wanganella, Talune and Mildura. The Wanganella will consequently not be sailing for New Zealand to-night. Mr. Forbes, and the Maori footballers will be unable to sail until Thursday, when the Marama is due to leave for Wellington.

To-day’s meeting of the seamen gave a poor hearing to the moderates but there will be another meeting held tomorrow. when-Xhe result of. meetings being held held at Melbourne and at Newcastle will be discussed. More seamen should be in port for to-mor-row’s meeting, and the moderates will make a determined effort to capture the meeting, and to defeat the strike extension plans.

MELBOURNE DECISION.

MELBOURNE. August 12

In defining the Seamen’s Union’s attitude to the hold-up. Mr. W. Clarke. Federal President of the Seamen’s Union, declared that the seamen did not regard the issue as a strike. He said: “The ships are idle as the result of a boycott by the owners, following on the victimisation of men who were dismissed from the Murada.” After the meeting, which lasted till early this evening, the Victorian seamen decided to support the Sydney strike. A decision was also taken to use every effort “to bring the strike to a successful conclusion.” The meeting was also attended by men from ships which reached port to-day. This means that more ships will be held up as they reach Melbourne. An extension of the strike to the Melbourne-Tasmania service is feared, as five men are expected to leave the Nairana on her arrival from Launceston to-morrow. It is expected that a difficulty will be experienced in replacing’them. This service has not been interrupted for many years.

CABINET’S ATTITUDE,

SYDNEY, August. 12.

The Federal Cabinet to-night considered the shipping hold-up. and decided to take no action until the Court has given a decision in the seamen’s overtime claim. The case is expected to be heard to-morrow.

WORSE TO COME?

(Recd. August 13, 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, August 13.

The Wanganella’s passengers have been asked to keep in touch with the Company, which hopes to secure a crew to-day. The Orungal is due to sail to-day for Queensland, but seven of her crew have given notice, and no seamen are offering for the vacancies. So far, six ships are held up, and 478 men are out of work.

Information from Melbourne indicates that the crews of four Huddart Parker ships there, the Nairana, Yarra, Colac and Goulburn. have been instructed to give twenty-four hours notice.

The “Telegraph" expresses the opinion that a complete paralysis of inter-State shipping is likely, as both shipowners and seamen recognise the impossibility of confining the holdup to the Huddart Parker line, if the dispute lasts a few more days. One decision of yesterday’s meeting which declares that the Murada men must be employed when vacancies occur on any ship, is almost certain to cause an extension of the strike.

CLAIM BEFORE COURT.

(Recd. August 13. 1 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 13

The Central Summons Court to-day, is hearing three claims totalling £1 3/4 for overtime payments allegedly due. because of the failure of the freighter Murada to leave Port Kentbla on time on June 22.

Counsel for the Company disputed the right of the men to payment to the payment.

( Proceeding. i

1 ’AC IFIC WATER-FRONT.

[per press association.]

AUCKLAND, August 12

Advice has been received by Henderson and MacFarlane, Ltd., that the American steamer Golden State, which was to leave Los Angeles on August 1, with a cargo from Pacific Coast ports for New Zealand, is delayed by the Canadian water-front labour trouble, and her sailing for New Zealand is now indefinite. She has already loaded at British Columbia ports, but she is unable to complete loading at othet ports. *1 he advice also states that th. 1 steamer Golden Cloud, which is scheduled to leave Los Angeles for New Zealand on September 1. will etilv bring cargo from Pacific Coast ports of the United States of America. She will not load at Cana.llan ports owing to the continuation of the

water-front troqble in Canada. No American cargo vessels have reached New Zealand from Pacific Coast ports since the steamer Golden Bear arrived at Auckland from Los Angel* .; on June 2’s. The steamer

Golden Coast was to have followed the Golden Hear, and was to have 1.-fl Los Angeles for Auckland on July 1 <'n account of tlm trouble she did not load, and her sailing lor New Zealand was cancelled.