OVERSEAS SHIPS

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 26 August 1925, Page 5

OVERSEAS SHIPS

CREWS ON STRIKE,

JGSITIOX IN AUSTRALIA

SUPPORT FOR SEAMEN

by (Able— press association—copyright. SYDNEY, Aug. 25. special meeting of the State Cabin© discussed the shipping strike, withoul arriving at a decision. Although th« overseas shipowners’ representatives are meeting daily, concerted adon has not vet been decided; on. riie crews on the held-np steamers lad themselves open for prosecution for reusing duty or absenting themselves Without leave while attending strike teetings, but in view of the numbers jivolved. action of this kind is not couemplated. Mr Graden, secretary of the marine Jansoort group, referring to the deportation proe'amation, said threats of 'imprisonment and deportation would not deter the union leaders. The monthly stop-work meeting of the Australian Seamen’s Union decided to support the British seamen in every possible way. It was also decided that in the event of an attempt to de- ' port any official of the Seamen’s Union stop-work meetings should be cal'ed in every port of the Commonwealth to consider what action should be taken to thwart the move., • - A message from Melbourne states that the Victorian Seamen’s Union en T rdorsed the action'of the Sydnev branch in taking over the conduct of the strike, '•'lie British seamen in the crew of the Euripides, after a meeting at which they wete addressed by iiieml>er s .of the union, decided to ioin the srtikers, and tile vessel was added to the idle list. Advice from Perth states that the Douglas sai’ed from Fremantle l’or London without trouble.

NO SHTPS HELD UP,

SITUATION IN ENGLAND

LONDON, Aug. 24

The shipowners and’the seamen aie gratified at the reception of cables from the Prime Minister of Australia. (Mr S. M. Bruce), pledging every effort to prevent illegal interference. The secretariat of the seamen stated >ba t al l delayed British ships sailed with full union crews. None are now held.up, either in London or the provinces. ‘lt n- explained that Mr Havelock Wilson’s mission was arranged weeks ego fur the purpose of participating in the opening of the seamen’s convalescent home at Montreal, and consisting w.ith the seamen’s 'union, in Canada and the. United States, which are weaker than the British unions, with a view to strengthening them in co-op-eration with the British unions.

MF.N OUT AT AUCKLAND.

OVERSEAS SHIPS AFFECTED.

<BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. ' f AUCKLAND, Aug. 25.' The strike of seamen, engaged on British ships extended to Auckland today. when the crews of three steamers, the Kent, the Benecia and the Hollinside. refused duty. This action was taken in accordance with the resolution passed at the meeting of British seamen on Monday evening. Tire total number of strikers on the three vessels is (14. Two other British steamers m port, the City of Bombay and the Penraorvah. vere not affected by the strike. The City of Bombay’s seamen are Las-cars.-with the exception of three quartermrsters. and consequently the ship :'s net |ikelv to be drawn into the trouHe, as the Lascars are on a different 'ate of pay. ' e Benmorvah’s crew continued at wore, although considerable pressure wa< used on them to join the strikers. In the morning a picket from the shore weat into the Penmorvah’s stokehold aril spoke to the donkeyman. A fight ens;rd. and it is reported that the picket h,-d the worst of the encounter, but he nnnaged to regain the shore without Ising recognised bv the officers of the <essel. To prevent any further trouble ■i po’iceman was stationed on each of ,he five vessels concerned. The action of the Holl.inside’s crew in refusing duty came as a surprise, because they are being paid the Australian rate, which is half as much again as the British rale. The crew are on British articles, but when she was loading timber at Banbury for New Zealand about six weeks ago the men struck for Australian rate of wages, as they considered the vos.se> was engaged

in the inter-colo,nini trade, and they Mihould he paid the inter-colonial rates. I’he Hol'inside was delayed for three davs. and in order to prevent any further delay the owners conceded the demand. In consequence the pay of deck hands went up from £lO ids to £IG 2s Gd, and that of stokehold hands from £ll to. £lB 2s Gd. It was understood that when the vessel completed her present charter the crew would re-->'ert to the pay ruling at the time on British ships. The Holliuside comp’eted discharge of her timber cargo this afternoon, and should, then have sailed for Nauru Island', to load phosphates for Australia. The crew’s refusal to work means that the,vessel wil> be delayed indefinitely. To-morrow morning she will l>e taken to an anchorage in the stream, where she .will remain until the strike is settled. So far the cooks and stewards on the vessels have not joined the strikers, but fVe cooks have given the masters notice that if the strikers’ mea’s are discontinued,, no food will be cooked for the officers. The firemen on the Benicia and Penrnorvah are Arabs, but they ore paid similar rates of wages as white

men. . The steamer Zina', which arrived flom Nauru Tslnhd to-night and berthed ■i t the King’s wharf "to discharge 7800 tons 0f... .phosphates, is on British articles., but has been engaged in the Vpuru phosphates trade since last May. Her seamen number 21. but it was no‘. l-cowii .tb.-h.ight jwhat action they would take regarding the dispute. The steiiiner Mniinayo. is due to-morro -- from, New.. York. She has ease oil and ooriera 1 merchandise for discharge "t New Zealand and VusDalin’ri ports. The cren- are on British articles. No action was taken against the strikers to-dav. 'llie fact that the nien refused, jlutv has been cabled to / the .shipowners in England.