THE FINAL STAGES

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 12 October 1925, Page 5

THE FINAL STAGES

SHIPPING HOLD=UP. COLLAPSING EVERYWHERE TO-DAY’S GOOD NEWS, BY CABLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT LONDON, Oct. 10. The headquarters of the National Sailors’ antL Firemen’s Union report that the strike is expected to collapse in the near future. A definite decision will be taken at a meeting in Lbndon on Sunday. A similar meeting is being held at Bristol, a ballot is being taken at Southampton, while it is believed the strike has collapsed at Liverpool. SYDNEY, Oct. 11.

Following steps in other parts of the Empire, the shipping strike is showing signs of collapse, although there has been no official move towards a settlement, >

An obviously inspired suggestion is that the Mayor should ascertain the bedrock terms of the owners and then call a meeting of the men, at which no union officials shall be present. CAPETOWN, Oct. 10. The shipping strike can to-night be considered at an end. The terms of settlement from Durban are accepted by the shipowners with the necessary statutory amendment as re-, gards clause four. The Ballarat, the first ship to strike at, Capetown, -with nine hundred immigrants on board, has sailed for Australia. The, Ballarat was manned by a crew consisting mostly of South African volunteers, and she crept out in the darkness unnoticed even by the strikers. A SECRET BALLOT CONDITIONAL RESUMPTION FAVOURED. CAPETOWN, Oct. 11. A secret strike ballot at Durban resulted in 311 voting for a settlement and 230 against. 'The terms were as follow: All seamen to return to full duty under protest as to the £1 reduction and their claim for wages under the following terms: (1) The shipowners to withdraw all prosecutions. (2) No victimisation. (3) No prosecutions on arrival in Britain. (4) The seamen returning to full 'duty to receive clean discharges as far as possible, conditional on good behaviour on the outward and homeward voyages. (5) The men whose ships have gone to be repatriated on the settlement of the dispute and to receive clean discharges as far as possible within the ship agent’s power, subject to good behaviour on the voyage to Britain. (6) Before the conclusion of the present voyage the men to have the customary opportunity of selection next voyage. STOKERS .JOIN STRIKERS. , MELBOURNE, Oct. 11. The stokehold crew of the steamer Nestor have joined the strikers. “HOPELESSLY STRANDED” UNOFFICIAL STRIKE COMMITTEE MR. HAVELOCK WILSON’S STATEMENT. LONDON, Oct. 9. The Australian steamship lines collectively announce that in consequence of the violent form assumed by the seamen’s strike at Fremantle, it has become necessary to cease calling at that port until normal conditions are restored.

Mr. Havelock Wilson (president of the British Seamen’s Union) said:— “The strike is not collapsing, but it hag collapsed so far as Britain is concerned. The Marine Workers’ Union’s unofficial strike committee it hopelessly stranded. Hundreds are fractically appealing to the Sailors’ and Firemen’s Union for reinstatement. The shipowners did not yield in this connection until our union undertook to submit only the names of our members as a guarantee on their behalf not to repeat this silly strike without a ballot of our members. “We have a rule that there shall be no strike unless sanctioned by a majority of the members, which must total not less than two-fifths of our membership. Upon our guarantee the shipowners have already agreed to reinstate over five hundred of our members, but thousands of non-members, both here and in the Dominions, arc not guaranteed.

“The majority of the Union Castle men are non-members, but the great majority of the Peninsular branch, via the Cape and New Zealand lines, are our members, also a substantial majority of the Orient and White Star. We are exerting our best efforts on their behalf, but unfortunately we cannot do anything for non-members, although we have both ample funds and sympathy for these grossly misled men.’’

Mr. Wilson added that the strike at Liverpool was as dead as mutton. Southampton was taking a ballot tomorrow as to whether the men would capitulate. Bristol and London were holding meetings and taking a show of hands.

TREE LABOUR WANTED SHIP-OWNERS TAKE ACTION. BY CABTjE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. SYDNEY, Oct. 12. Received Oct. 12, 11.45 a.m. Ship-owners are advertising for volunteer union labour to work idle ships. They must sign on on the British articles.