PETERING OUT

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 9 October 1925, Page 5

PETERING OUT

THE SHIPPING HOLD-UP.

WORK AT WELLINGTON.

GETTING BACK TO NORMAL. (By Telegraph.—Special to Star). WELLINGTON, Oct. 9. The New Zealand Shipping .Company’s Turakina was brought from tho stream to-day to complete discharge. Beyond the presence of an extra number of police, nothing unusual was evident. „ • m Labour calls for the Kent and i'urakina were responded to, and a large number of wharf workers are awaiting the next call for labour. Meanwhile the crews are being completed.

(BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 8. For some days past there has been a feeling amongst the strikers that their tactics were not likely to meet with very much success, and, moreover, a number of men were feeling the pinch of having to exist on short rations and minus any such luxuries as tobacco, etc. One man is reported as having remarked : “I’m fed up with walking about Wellington with nothing in my pocket. 'The sooner I get into a job again the better.” That appears to have been the attitude of the fifty or eo men who reported to the police station this morning and were placed on board 5 their various ships. The majority of the men who resumed duty were members of the crew of the New Zealand Shipping Company’s liner Turakina, and the result is that this vessel is now almost fully manned. It is understood the ship is now short of two deck hands, but no great difficulty is anticipated in securing the men wanted, and as soon as that is done the Turakina will be able to leave port. Men were also available for the Arawa and Leitrim, although in the cases of these steamers the numbers were not so large. It is anticipated by the police, however, that within 48 hours at least 200 mem will have returned to duty. Already three members of the crew of the Arawa have made application to the authorities for permission to rejoin their ship, and it was granted. It is understood a similar concession will be made to any others who express a desire to rejoin their ships under the new agreement. Developments in this connection may be expected within the course of a day or so, as it was reported this morning that the Arawa’s men at present confined to prison were conferring regarding the position. It is understood the men serving sentences of imprisonment have been advised bv the strike committee to return to their ships if they are given that opportunity by the Government. It is stated further that a large number of applications have been made for work on ships by volunteer seamen, and that .as far as the numbers of men offering are concerned there should be no difficulty in obtaining complements for the boats within a day or two.

MEN IN GOAL. SOME WILLING TO RETURN. WELLINGTON, Oct. 8. On inquiry at the Terrace Gaol tonight a Times reporter learned that Butler, leader of the strike committee, had visited the gaol, and had induced the men to consider the question of returning to their ships. As a result half of the men had signified) their desire to be released on this condition. The matter of release is one for the police and the Justice Department, hut it is believed that the next 10 days will see their transfer from the prison to their ships. In addition there are 25 prisoners at Trentham. It is not known what attitude they will take up. Some of the men in gaol believe that on the expiration of their period they will be released with full citizenship, but it is pointed out that the authorities possess power to deport them. It is stated) that plenty of free labour is offering, and many men have been accepted.

-MANNING THE HORORATA. SEAMEN TO BE RELEASED FROM PRISON. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 8. Arrangements are being made for the striking seamen from the Hororata, who are at present in Paparua prison, to return to duty. It was stated 1 this afternoon that the necessary formalities for the release of the men were now being arranged, and it was expected that the men would leave the prison to-morrow to resume duty.

ANOTHER) SHIP TO' SAIL. AUCKLAND, Oat. 8. The steamer Benecia, which has 'been delayed ait Auckland since August 23, has secured eight deck hands to replace the members of the crew who were imprisoned for refusing duty. She will probably sail to-morrow morning for Wellington to discharge- cargo from Canada and the United States.

PREFERRED IMPRISONMENT. SEAMEN BEFORE THE COURT. AUCKLAND, Out, 8. Fifty-one seamen from' the steamer Matakana and fifty-six from the Waimana pleaded guilty in the Police Court this afternoon .to combining to disobey lawful commands or to neglect to obey them', and were sentenced to a month’s imprisonment. They treated the proceedings lightly throughout, and the sentence was hailed with a marked demonstration of joy. “I state in public that if the men are now willing to take the ships to sea the case shall be adjourned and the charges struck out when they leave,'’ said Mr. McVeagh for the owners. “Under the section I have no alternative but to impose imprisonment,’ the magistrate (Mr. Cutten) said, “and lam loth to do- that. It is for you to decide which course you will take.” “I would rather go to gaol than accept the terms,” saicl a- seamen. “Wlrat battleground have we on which to settle the dispute?” Mr. Cutten, who said he had no alternative, convicted the accused and

sentenced them to a month's imprisonment.

There were, shouts of “Hear, hear,” and much clapping. When the men of -the Waimana were being charged a young trimmer, E. J. Cooper, pleaded not guilty to the charge. He said he did not combine with the crew. j

Captain Andrews, of the Waimana, said that at the time he spoke to the crew accused was absent. When he returned he was ordered to raise steam on the boilers, but he refused. Mr. McVeagh said that .if Cooper was prepared to take the ship to sea with the others he was (prepared to .accept an adjournment in his case. The case was accordingly adjourned until October 15, but the remainder of tbe crew received a month's imprisonment.

The conveyance of the men to Mt. Eden prison was an involved business, the police motor-vans having to make seven trips. Ais the men were led from the court they were cheered by a large gathering of isamen from the other 39 ships. The accommodation at the gaol iis now so cramped that some of the men have to sleep in passageways and others in the gaol chapel.

“CLEAR OUT.” TRADES HALL ORDER TO COMMUNISTS. MELBOURNE, Oct. 8. The executive of the Trades Hall Council has instructed the British Seamen’s Strike Committee that the. activities of two prominent members of the Communist Party who ar© posing as strike leaders must cease, if the Trades Hall is to be connected 1 officially with the strike.

MORE SEAMEN SENTENCED. SYDNEY, Oct. 8. A further batch of strikers were sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment.

DANGER OF APATHY. “BRITAIN HELD TO RANSOM.’.’ EFFORTS OF COMMUNISTS. LONDON, Sep. 26. The chairman of the Shipping Federation, Mr F. C. Allen, writes: “The public are inclined to regard the shipping deadlock as ended, hut the impasse continues in Australia and South Africa, and we must bring before the public daily the. danger of treating the strike with indifference. . “A cumulative Communist effort seeks to destroy England’s whole Constitution, and the leaders’ insidious methods in the present strike are only part of a concerted programme. There is every prospect of a stoppage of our exports to the Dominions, from which the British public inevitably will suffer. „ , . ■ . “There are 650,000 tons of shipping idle. That means that thousands of tons of beef, mutton and butter are being delayed. Some of it will deteriorate, much will become valueless, and prices will rise as the markets become depleted. “Put plainly, Britain is being held to ransom by the men who have instigated and coerced the crews to defy their legal contracts and to join in a campaign to’ harass and disintegrate industry, and to bring Britain under a revime similar to that of Russia. “Will not Britain wake up and insist on the Government handling this consniracy with firmness and determination? * A bloody revolution will not he necessary if by apathy a landslide is permitted to occur.”