SHIPPING HOLD-UP

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 22 October 1925, Page 5

SHIPPING HOLD-UP

BRITISH SHIPS “BLACK.”

SUPPLIES OF COAL REFUSED.

DEVELOPMENT AT BRISBANE.

BY CABLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT 1 . Rieceived O'ct. 22, 11.40 a.m. BRISBANE, Oct. 22. The strike committee has declared all the British ships in Brisbane to he “black” and decided that they will not be permitted to be supplied with coal. Farmers throughout the State are offering to man the ships, should the owners call for volunteers.

WANT WORK ASHORE. STRIKERS AT ADELAIDE. Received Oct. 22, 11.40 a.m. ADELAIDE, Get. 22. Many striking seamen are registering at the Government Labour Bureau for employment ashore. The crew of the steamer Westmoreland has joined the strikers. POSITION IN SYDNEY. SUPPORT FOR. STRIKERS. SYDNEY, Oct. 21. A meeting of members of the Seamen’s Union resolved to continue _ unqualified support to the striking British seamen. Ways and means of assisting strikers in holding out were considered but not finalised. The meeting then adjourned till to-morrow. Two strikers were sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment. in the Assembly the Prime, Minister (Mr J. T. Lang), replying to questions as to whether the Government was prepared to take any steps to end the strike, said it was purely a Federal matter. The Federal Premier (Mr S. M. Bruce) was responsible that no efforts had been made to settle the strike. He was the only man who had given industrial upheaval his benediction because it suited him for political purposes. MORE SEAMEN BEFORE THE COURT. DUNEDIN, Oct. 21. Two members of the crew of the ■Hbrorata, charged with refusing to obey a lawful command, -were sentenced to one month’s imprisonment.

The captain isaid the men wore adopting a policy of obstruction following upon the engagement of free labour.

The defendants admitted they were taking a day off, but they thought the case would be met by the usual course of the stoppage of a day’s pay. Defendants were among the men convicted for deserting the ship at Lyttelton. The captain said the men had already broken a written agreement. Defendants told the court that now they were prepared to work with free labour, but the captain said the men had been sent to cause trouble. Two seamen charged with deserting from the R;aranga were remanded till to-morrow.

AUCKLAND PRACTICALLY CLEAR ONE OVERSEAS SHIP LEFT. AUCKLAND, Oct. 21. The overseas steamer Tainui sailed this evening for Opua. She is manned by some of the original crew and nearly 50 volunteer seamen. Some of the crew left the ship at Wellington, and others who refused duty this morning were sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. The Tainui at present has more than her complement for a cargo steamer of her size. When taking passengers she carries a large number of stewards, and her complement then is about 120 all told. Before she sails finally for London a sufficient number of stewards will be signed on to replace those left behind in New Zealand. Thirteen British steamers have been delayed in Auckland for varying periods since the seamen’s strike extended to the port on August 25. Of the number 12 have sailed. The only one still delayed in port is the Zinal, and she is expected to sail at an early date. The only other British vessel in port is the Trefusis, which is now discharging cargo from New York. Cargo operations will he completed on Friday or Saturday, when the ship is to sail for southern ports to complete discharge. It is not expected that she will he delayed bv the strike.