CLEARING SHIPS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21850, 22 October 1945, Page 3

CLEARING SHIPS

DELAYS PERSIST

MORE TROOPS WORKING

U.K. EXPORTS AFFECTED (9 am.) LONDON, Oct. 21

Although cuts in the? rations have thus far been avoided, the e'earing of ships at the ports affected by the dockers’ strike is not yet on a satisfactory scale, says the Daily Telegraph. About 3COO troops are being drafted to the ports at the week-end, bringing the total cf soldier-dockers to more than 10.000. Their work will be concentrated on discharging vessels, occupying berths urgently needed for ships arriving in the ne::t few days.

The prolonged strike is also causing further dislocation of the export trade. The Pert Phillip, which has just sailea from London for New Zealand, bad to leave behind 4000 tons of cargo. These exports ware needed to pay for some of the moat, butter ar.d cheese which Nev/'Zealand is sending to Britain.

While tne striking dockers are announcing their determination to stay out until their demands are met and arc planning to persuade non-striking union members to join them, the Ministry of War Transport and the War Office are preparing to increase the number of troops available to work at the affected ports, a later message states.

The Sunday Express reports that another CC39 troops from the porteperating companies have just been moved to England from Europe and operation orders are new ready for the immediate movement cf an additional 15,000 if the strike continues to hold up and jeopardise Britain s drive for exports. The Glasgow. Mersevside. and London dockers have reaffirmed their decision to continue striking. Only the Belfast and Greenock men have decided to return. A meeting of Merseysiders decided to send delegates to the working ports in an attempt to gain national unity among the dock workers.