COMPLETE FIASCO

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 23 September 1925, Page 5

COMPLETE FIASCO

AGITATORS’ EFFORTS.

TO EXTEND THE STRIKE UNEMPLOY MENT IN CREASING. <Y CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT (Received Sep. 23, 10 a.m.) LONDON, Sep. 22. Nearly 80 vessels, representing oyer 750,000 tons, are delayed in Dominion ports through the strikq. The nonarrival of South African steamers is increasing unemployment among the Tilbury dockers and Thames barge worloers and lightermen. Efforts of the Plumbers’ Union to call a London conference to influence shipyard workers at Southampton to join the strikers proved a complete fiasco, the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades declining to participate. It is explained that the Trades Union Congress has decided that it is powerless to intervene in th© strike, as it is not recognised by the executives of the unions concerned. The Amalgamated Engineering Union, boilermakers, shipwrights and transport workers have also declined to attend.—Sydney Sun Cable.

LONDON, Sep. 21. A further move by the shipyard employees to extend the strike occurred at a meeting in London called by the Operative Plumbers’ Society, with the object of obtaining the intervention of the general council of the Trades Union Congress. Seventeen unions were invited, but only six sent delegates. The bigger unions declined. The meeting was held in camera, but Mr McKenna, the plumbers’ vice-president, declined to make a statement regarding the proceedings, on the ground that the development involved too much. An official of an important union which was not represented states that he had learned that the conference was a complete fiasco. TERMINATION OF STRIKE. PROPOSAL BY SEAMEN’S ORGANISER. OLD RATE TO CONTINUE PENDING INQUIRY. LONDON. Sep. 21. Mr Shinwell, organiser of the British Seamen’s Union, through the press, submits to the Shipping Federation a proposal to terminate the strike provided the old rate of pay is continued, pending a fully representative meeting of shipowners and seamen to discuss the matter afresh and that the Maritime Board be reconstituted, giving representation to all sections of the men.

DEPORTATION BOARD. SYDNEY, Sep. 22. Mr Watt’s application that the sittings of the Deportation Board should be adjourned till after the Federal elections was founded on the contention that Mr Bruce committed to the hoard for trial on oath questions which apparently he now preferred to have decided by the electors, “on hysteria prompted and fomented by over-state-ments, gross exaggerations and all the political machinery of oratory and rhetoric.” The Deportation Board adjourned till to-morrow to decide whether it would be necessary for Mr Bruce and Senator Pearce to attend. MORE STRIKERS SENTENCED. ADELAIDE, Sep. 22. Fifty-one striking stewards and firemen were sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment . and ordered to forfeit two days’ pay. DAIRY PRODUCE AFFECTED. HIGH PRICES RULING. CONTINENTAL PRODUCERS BENEFTTTING. Received Sept. 23, 1.1.5 a.m. LONDON. Sept. 22. Mr Newton denies that New Zealand butter stocks are unreasonably withheld in Britain. He says that holders are merely rationing the'market, owing to the strike restricting Australian and New Zealand arrivals. The prie’e has already been increased to 400 s per ton, equivalent to 1 twopence and threepence oer pound retail. If the strike continues during the next six months there wi',l probably be a further increase of 60s per ton to the wartime level. Wheat, meat and wool are also likely to increase, resulting in a higher cost >f living for Britishers. Continental producers are seizing the opportunity to enter the British market, and Continental shippers are snatching cargoes for Australia and New Zealand, expecting to obtain profitable return cargoes to a hungry market. This probably will enable them to retain a portion of the trade permanently, thereby ousting many British seamen. Baltic ports are especially active in sending butter to Britain., including Russian supplies from Siberia.' One London firm is importing 3000 casks of butter weekly, equal to 6000 Australian and New Zealand boxes. Thus the Russian Reds are getting high 'rices in Britain, while Red agents in Australia are damaging Anglo-Austra-lian trade, leaving the stinkers unemnloved at present as well as permanently. One shipping authority states that Hie strike, is steadily undoing 'Wembley’s good work on beha'f of AngloAustralian and New Zealand trade. — Sydney Sun Cable.