STRIKE UNSETTLED

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 24 August 1935, Page 5

STRIKE UNSETTLED

Mass Meeting of Sydney Seamen Ends In an Uproar OWNERS GREATLY SURPRISED (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) SYDNEIY, Aug 23N)o decision) (was reached Ivy the mass meeting of seamen at Sydney to-day. The meeting closed in an uproar and was adjourned till 10 o’clock to-morrow morning. As far as can be ascertained militants and moderates were almost equally represented at the meeting, which was most unwieldy. Dissent with the chairman’s rulings were recorded on two occasions-

Mr Jacob Johnson, Federal secretary, submitted a motion for the acceptance of the shipowners’ terms to the effect that if the ships were immediately manned no notice would be taken of the indifferent discharges, provided the men offering were recognised as capable. An amendment for the rejection of the terms and instructing the committee of management to again submit the terms laid down at the compulsory conference, although described by the chairman. Mr W. Clarke, Federal president, as a direct negation of the motion, was discussed together with the motion in the noisest fashion. Officials found it impossible to obtain the true strength of the vote because of the pandemonium, and, allegedly, because some of the men were passing the tellers on three or four occasions. The chairman refused to announce the result of the vote. The meeting ended in disorder. Shipowners were greatly surprised at the outcome, as practically all the affected companies had their vessels read.v for sea. The Wanganella, which was expected to sail to-night, has been stopped. If circumstances permit she will sail to-morrow night at 8 o’clock. A call for a crew for the Islands steamer Malaita to-day failed. The steamer Omana sailed to-day for New Zealand via Melbourne. The Trades and Labour Council permitted wharf labourers to handle the carao of the Patrick steamer Craigend which earlier in the week was manned by volunteer labour. A later message says 1 that the James Patrick steamer Carlisle, manned by a volunteer crew, sailed late last night for Melbourne. Two other vessels are expected to sail to-day with volunteer crews. (i .