TOWARD CLIMAX

Hokitika Guardian, 6 November 1936, Page 5

TOWARD CLIMAX

maritime strike movement

United Press Assiciatlon—By Electrh Telegraph—Copyright)

NEW YORK; November 4,

The maritime strike moved towards a climax at this port as the owners and operators made' a counter-charge of terrorism against the strikers and demand , an investigation, while on the Pacific coast it was reported that the operators were settling down to 1 four 'months’ idleness.

.Mr John Franklin, president of the International Mercantile Marine Company, requested the prosecutor, • Mr Dewey, to look into the activities of alleged communistic, centralised terrorists, who were compelling the men to strike. Mr Dewey is not acting immediately, however. Mr J. Currari; V; "whd ; is ' 1 eadirig the strike on the Atlantic coast in de-t. fiance of the union leaders, in replying, said that 'Mr Franklin’s statement was a hysterical cry for sympathy. He said the owners and also the International ‘'Seatoan’s Union were guilty of terrorism.

It is estimated that 326 ships are idle, resulting in the loss of 500,000 dollars daily. -Of these vessels 150 are on the Pacific coast.

Mr Harry Bridges, the unionist leader, in San Francisco said: “There is little development. We' are considering placing skeleton crews on the ships to move perishable goods. The unions are willing, but the operators are likely to refuse because they fiave strike breakers aboard some ships. Therefore they fern’ trouble. > ' The joint strike committee at San Francisco has sent a cable message to Australia asking for the co-oper-ation of unions by refusing to handle cargo. _____