MARITIME TROUBLE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 10095, 7 September 1925, Page 5

MARITIME TROUBLE

DEPORTATION BOARD MEETS

WITNESSES FROM STEAMERS _ HEARD.

(United Press Assn. —Copyright.) F’ . MELBOURNE, Sept. 5. A hurried meeting of the Deportation Board was held yesterday to hear witnesses in connection with the stear mer Surrey, which was scheduled to sail during tlie day. After a hot legal duel between the opposing counsel,- Air. Watt, on behalf of Walsh and-Johnson, said they would not press for attendance, as there were members of the former crew in Sydney who could be called later.

The Cburt then adjourned till Wednesday. The Surrey sailed later in the day.

NO WRITS AGAINST MEN IN SYDNEY.

ADELAIDE SKIPPER TO' PROCEED AGAINST EIGHTY.

(United Press Assn. —Copyright.) SYDNEY, Aug. 5. 'So far Sydney shipowners have not decided on the question of issuing writs against the strikers. It is alleged that about one thousand in Sydney have laid themselves open to prosecution by refusing duty. At Newcastle warrants were issued against twenty members of the crew of the steamer Alin and at Adelaide the captain of the Askanius laid an information against eighty of the crew in Sydney.

DEFIANCE BY THE STATES

TASMANIA SUPPORTS N.S.W.

(Received Sept. 7, 1.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 6. The Premier of South Australia, has replied favorably to Air. Lang’s suggestion to co-operate in testing the validity of the Deportation Act. Tlie Premier of Tasmania is favorable, but says be has no funds to meet the expense thereof. The Premier of West Australia considered the testing devolved upon thoso directly involved.

POSITION AT HOAIE

STRIKE PETERING OUT

(A. and N.Z. Gable Association.) (Received Sept. 5. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 5. The Seamen’s Union officially report that tlie unofficial strike is petering out. Intimidation prevails, .sometimes involving surgical treatment. Neverthedess no ships are held up in London, Liverpool, Manchester Garston, South Shields, Plymouth and Southampton, where the crossChannel services have been resumed. The Montcalm connecting with the Aorang: at Vancouver sai.ed punctually.

LINERS LEAVE DESPITE STRIKERS

(Received Sqpt. 6, 11 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 0

Strikers at Southampton failed to prevent the departure of four liners including the Berengaria which sailed on schedule time, fully manned, including 97 per cent, of the original crev», . • The Seamen’s and Firemens Union report thar home, picket# who have been members of the unofficial strike committee are now applying for union jobs. Six ships sailed from Liverpool to-day. Although the picketing by Communists who are not seamen has lieen severe, not a ship has lost the tide, with the exception of one at Liverpool. At Southampton and London the Communists are very bitter, softietimes proceeding to violence. The ports of Britain are now working normally.

STRIKE AT NEWPORT DOCKS

(A. and N.Z Cable Association.) LONDON, Sept. 5.

The general cargo workers in Newport Docks, in defiance of the trade union headquarters’ instructions, took a holiday to-day, following the employers’ refusal to accede to their reauest. Consequently that s : de of the docks was at a complete standstill.

SUPPORT FROM INDIA FOR

STRIKERS <A ANI) N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATIONS DSLHI, Sept. 5. The Indian Seamen’s Union at Calcutta passed a resolution against Lascars being employed in South Africa and other places and expressing sympathy with the strikers.

SOUTH AFRICAN* ROUND-TABLE

CONFERENCE

DISCUSSION FREE FROM RANCOUR.

(Received Sent. 6. 11.40 p.m.) CAPETOWN, Sept. 5The Sophocles sailed for Australia, but afterwards put back. At 'the shipping strike round-table conference, the clr'ef points presented' on the part of the men were when their case was presented to the Mar it.im Board they were not consulted in regard to the reduet’on of one pound a month, which, left them w : th a wage below the standard on which they could support their families decently. It was pointed out that- the majority of the men in South African waters were not represented on .the Maritime Board, being members of the Mar ire Workers’ organisation. In regard to a large number of others •'t wos asserted that, although the reduct'on was decided on two days before sailing, they were not informed of it. , .■ The shin owners emphasised the sanctity of agreements, and pointed out that when the decisions of the Maritime Board were adverse to the owners and favored the men. there never was any suspicion that fa'th wonVI r.ot be kept with the men. There was notlrng dissimilar about the present position. The discussion on both sides was free of Rancour.

OWNERS TAKE FIRM STAND

MEN TO BE PROSECUTED

(PRESS ASSOCIATION.!

WELLINGTON. Sept. P>. Ovci •seas shipping companies whose vessels are involved in. the present seamen’s strike, intimated to-day that in view of the fact that the men on strike had refused the owners’ offer to forego all pena’ties if work were resumed on Saturday last, it had been deckled to commence prosecutions forthwith against the men. The companies consider that . the oner they made was a generous one and a bona fide effort to bring about a speedy settlement. They consider that - the owners have been extremely patient with the men in the belief that the latter have been -nrsled by local individuals acting without the authority of the moil’s accredited representatives. The companies cannot, however. tolerate any longer the actions of. the men in disregarding legal contracts voluntarily entered' into aha .approved by the - leaders of the men hi Ena’and. It has, »een decided to put m motion the ordinary process of the law.