BIG STRIKE

Grey River Argus, 17 December 1920, Page 3

BIG STRIKE

ON SHIPS IN AUSTRALIA.

STEWARDS COMING OUT

OTHER. WORKERS SUPPORT THEM

* (Reed December 16, 9.55 p.m.) SYDNEY, December 16. The crews of the steamers Ulimaroa and Zcalandia have been paid off. The Maheno and* Niagara arc due to leave ' to-morrow, and are fully booked .with, passengers. Many are for the Davis Cup. A suggestion is made that the stewards' vacancies in the former should be filled by New Zealand stewards, to enable the vessel to sail, as half of the stewards belong to New Zealand. The firemen state that if this proposal is carried out, they will refuse to sail. The position is likely to become more serious than was anticipated, as the Transporters' Federation embracing forty thousand workers, Avill support the stewards, "and the coal miners arc also sympathetic. The Federal Secretary of the Stewards' Union has announced that the men will give notice and leave the ships as the vessels 'arrive at their ports throughout the Commonwealth. HOBART, December 16. There is evidence that the strike was planned some time ago, for the seamen openly boasted: "Watch December the Sixteenth!'"' during the' past month. > The hold-up and isolation of Tasmania has caused consternation, as this is the third year the Christmas tourist season has been dislocated, resulting in great loss. A representative public meeting decided to ask Mr. Hughes to commandeer the steamer Loongana and so maintain communication with the mainland.