LAND OF STRIKES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 7 January 1925, Page 5

LAND OF STRIKES

AUSTRALIA’S UNHAPPY PLIGHT.

SHIPPING STRIFE. WILL UNIONS GIVE IN? BY CABLE—PEERS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. (Received Jan. 7, 11.35 a.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 7. Jt is learned- from reliable quarters that officials of the Seamen’s Union are not satisfied with the Communist Hall as the picking up place, and would welcome a conference upon the matter as a graceful way out of the difficulty. It is also thought they are desirous of negotiations for a settlement of the overtime dispute on account of the growing fear that this will lead to deregistration. It is not expected that the Union Company will be affected by the dispute in regard to the picking up places* The two vessels Kanna and Alakura will be laid up for overhaul, and about 280 men of all marine callings will he idled. It is estimated that about 3000 men are unemployed as a result of the strike. Some of them have registered with the Labour Department for employment in other callings. _ „ SYDNEY, Jan. 6.

Speaking at a luncheon on hoard the new Orient liner Orama, Air. Dunlop (president of the Chamber of Commerce) exhorted the Federal and State Governments to'take action in the shipping dispute to prevent a few’ Reds at the dictation of a party of anarchists in another country bringing ruin to the Commonwealth. The !Premier (Sir George Fuller), in replv, said his Government would support in every way in its power the soldier wharf labourers to ivhom preference had been promised. The men would be. given their own bureau, which would be housed in Governmentowned premises, and would be open on Wednesday. The old bureau was closed to-night, the members being given a, week’s wages in lieu of notice. The crew of the Suva have been paid off and the vessel tied up indefinitely. Alueh dissatisfaction is expressed by the idle seamen, as they are not receiving strike pay. It is stated that bv the end of the week the majority of them will have registered at the Government labour bureau for other employment.

Hopes of a settlement are now more remote than ever.

SITUATION AT MELBOURNE. OWNERS WILL NOT YIELD. QUESTION OITcONFERENCE. AIELBOURNE, Jan. 6. The owners are determined not to accede to the men’s demand that the crews be picked up at the union rooms. The Loongana for Tasmania and the Karoola for Sydney were due to sail to-day, hut both are held up, the owners stating that they would only engage crews in the usual way. Air. Justice Powers announced that notice has been given to the parties to the waterfront dispute in December available at any time to hear any apthat the Federal Arbitration Court is plication, to call a conference, or to intervene if any of the parties so desired, and notice has been given fixing Tuesday next tentatively for hearing the dispute. Air. Justice Powers concluded by stat- 1 ing that he is still available to call a compulsory conference, or to intervene if any of the parties think he can assist in settling the dispute.

TASMANIA ISOLATED.

MANY VISITORS STRANDED,

HOBART, Jan. 6,

The Chamber of Commerce has asked tlie Federal Government to take action to restore communication with the mainland, stating that hundreds of visitors from tlie mainland are stranded; and a shortage of supplies is threatened as the result of the tVing up of the steamer Nairana.

SEAMEN ADAMANT

(Received Jan. 7, 10.40 a.m.) ADELAIDE, Jan. 7

On the arrival of the steamer Clan Munroe she was regarded as black by all the maritime unions. The seamen refused to man the pilot vessel or to assist in berthing. The Watersiders’ Federation refused to carry out instructions received from the Federal Executive regarding the working of the vessel in the terms of the recent agreement.