PROTECTING LOYALISTS

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 2 October 1925, Page 5

PROTECTING LOYALISTS

PERTH INCIDENT.

POLICE POWERLESS. MORE ASSISTANCE WANTED. BT CABLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT. Received Oct. 2, 11.25 a.m. MELBOURNE. Oct. 2. .The Commonwealth Prime Minister (Mr. S. M. Bruce) said that lie had received a telegram from the overseas shipping representatives at Perth setting out the facts regarding the intimidation of, the crew of the steamer Demodoeus, and stating that no police protection was available. The Commissioner of Police admits he cannot cope with the situation. Mr. Bruce has telegraphed to the Premier of Westralda asking him what action he proposed to take for the protection of loyal seamen, and what assurances can he given that arriving steamers will not be subjected to similar interference such as occurred in the case of the Demodoeus.

STRIKE FUNDS. TROUBLE IN LABOUR CIRCLES. Received Oct. 2, 11.25 a.m. ADELAIDE, Oct. 2. Trouble exists in labour circle s in regard to the position to ho taken in the strike. It is said that many unions refused to make levies for the support of strikers owing to. the cost of. the approaching elections. They have intimated that the seamen must he abandoned till after the campaign. MEN RETURNING TO SHIPS. ADELAIDE, Oct. 2. It is probable that the steamer Ascanius will be able to leave port shortly,! as several men who have been released from gaol have returned to the vessel. Many men have also returned to the Balranald. MORE SEAMEN JOIN STRIKERS, Received Oct. 2, 11.25 a.m. MELBOURNE, Oct. 2. Forty-eight firemen and 12 seamen from the steamer Suevic, on arrival from England, decided to join the -strike. ORVIETO’S LOYAL CREW. Received Oct. 2, 11.25 a.ip. SYDNEY, Oct. 2. On the arrival of the Orvieto from Melbourne, owing to intimidation at other ports, the vessel will remain at the anchorage where adequate protection can be afforded by the owners to the loyal members of the crew.

DESPERATE TACTICS. STRIKE BECOMING CRITICAL. SYDNEY, Ok. 1. A further ba/teli of striking seamen were sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment. The Overseas Shipping Representatives’ Association has received advice from the British shipowners’ .committee stating that unless adequate guarantees pf effective police protection, are forthcoming, no overseas British ships .will call at Fremantle. The statement of the Shipowners Association says: “The physical force and mob violence directed against British unionists are a significant indication, of the desperate tactics of the Red element responsible for the strike. More -serious still is the failure to provide police -protection. When physical violence takes command it os a certain sign that -the -situation of the -strikers is becoming -critical. The statement denies that any negotiations are proceeding for a settlement o-f the strike on a basis of the restoration of the reduction, and adds: “The only terms on -which the men will be re-employed include an unconditional return to work.'’ In .the Assembly the Premier (Mr J. T. Lang), in reply to a question, stated that he had received an ultimatum from the Seamen’s Union and, speaking. on behalf of the Government and the Parliamentary Labour Party, he would like to say that they were not going to accept any ultimatum from the Seamen’s Union or Walsh and Johnson. The Government would take full responsibility and -take no notice of any ultimatum. When sixty-three members of the crew o-f the Orama appeared in the Police Court to-day to -answer -charges arising out of the strike, counsel on behalf of the shipowners asked that the charges be withdrawn. The men cheered lustily as they left the court free.

At the Deputation Board Mr Wat:, m pressing for the issue of subpoenas against Mr. S, M. Bruce (Federal Premier) and G. F. Pea zee (a member of the Federal Ministry) said they knew the facts, which should be before the board. If the board did not call them he intended to tender subpoenas for signature. After the board had deliberated in

private the chairman announced that, i' .;as the board was not satisfied than * • ’Mr. Bruce and Mr. Pearce could give material evidence, it was not disposed to ask either to appear of his own volition. It also declined to sign subpoenas fior their attendance.

KEEPING OUT OF DISPUTE. ATTITUDE OF WATERSIDERS. SYDNEY, Oct. 1. The general president of the Waterside Workers’ Federation has issued a statement clearly defining the 'attitude of the federation towards the seamen’s strike. It states: “The federation emphatically'refuses to foe drawn into the dispute. The union has supported, as far as possible, the action of British seamen who have chjosen to take 'direct action twelve thousand miles from the origin of the dispute. An attempt has been made to win the dispute at the expense of certain Australian maritime unions. “Officials of the waterside workers have never been consulted over the dispute. They have simply been informed by the advisors of those men and other seLf-appointed authorities that an injuiy to one in an injury to all, and their trouble to-day may be the wateinsiders’ to-morrow.” . After reviewing resolutions; carried by the Sydney transport group declaring British ships “black,'’ and stating in this respect that the seamen believed the strike would be won by forcing the wharfie on the bread line, the statement concludes: “As far as the expulsion of Mr. Havelock Wilson is concerned, it lias nothing to do witn trade unions in Australia, where unions bavo enough to do to keep jtheir own officials in order.” _ . “The federation advises the seamen to take their disputes where they