STRIKE AT DARWIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20385, 23 October 1940, Page 8

STRIKE AT DARWIN

LABOURERS ON WHARF COAL CARGO FOR NAVY DARWIN, Oct. 3. Escorted by armed soldiers, 40 naval ratings this afternoon began to unload a shipment of coal over which a strike had developed. The intervention of the defence authorities brought an immediate plea from the strike leaders for 12 hours’ grace in which to reconsider their refusal to work. The troops were withdrawn, but to-night the strikers decided to remain idle. Accordingly, naval shore parties, under armed military guards, will take over the unloading to-morrow morning, and will work the whole waterfront system, including the railways. Warning by Minister All points where sabotage is possible will be patrolled to-night by doubled security guards, and no striker will be allowed near the wharf. These restrictions will continue until all the coal is dischai'ged. The Minister for the Interior, Senator Foil, says a message from Canberra, to-day warned wharf labourers at Darwin, who have refused to unload coal from a vessel because it is equipped with automatic coal grabs, that the Government was determined to see that the coal, which was required for defence purposes, was unloaded. “The Commonwealth Government,” he said, “will not tolerate actions of this kind during the war.” Senator Foil said that the coal had been sent to Darwin by the naval authorities. It was intolerable that there shauld be a strike to delay handling of these fresh cargoes for the Navy. His advice to the men was to go back to work, because otherwise the Government would see that the coal was unloaded. Cause of Dispute The Commonwealth Railways Commissioner, Mr. Gahan, said the steamer began discharging coal at Darwin on September 19, with coal grabs, which normally meant that five men a hatch only were employed, as against 15 a hatch with baskets. However, during the working, six wharf laboureers were employed trimming coal between decks, necessitated by the stowage of road equipment. When the trimming was finished, the number of men was reduced <o five. The men then demanded that the full number of men that would be employed with baskets should be cm ployed when using grabs.