FIGHT TO A FINISH

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 1209, 6 January 1925, Page 5

FIGHT TO A FINISH

SHIPPING CRISIS ACUTE. BOTH SIDES DETERMINED. [By Electric Telegraph.—tJopyright.] Received January 6, 9,35 a.m. MELBOURNE, Jan. 6. Unless there is some decisive action on the part of the Federal Ministry, or intervention by the Arbitration Court, it appears certain that, within a few days, the inter-State shipping serviced will be completely suspended. The steamers Karoola and Time are laid up owing to shortage of crews. Seven nundred passengers from the Karoola and Nirana are held up, and probably this number will' be considerably added to when the Loongana arrives, as it is expected that she also will be idled. . Thore appears to be a determination on both sides to fight to a finish. — Press Association. SEAMEN'S UNION CRITICISED. PROVOCATIVE POLICY. SYDNEY, Jan. 5. No settlement having been reached in the Ulimaroa di-.pute, the crew has been paid olf and the steamer hung up indefinitely. At a meeting of- the sea transport group of unions, delegates strongly criticised tho Seamen's Union's demand regording the pioking of crows. They characterised it as deliberately provocative and productive of one interpretation only, namely, a suicidal desire to bring about 'a general hold-up. The marine engineers have decided not to countenance tho engaging of crews otherwise than aboard ship. It is also stated' that the Merchant Service Guild will refuse to allow members to engage crews by any other than the old system. The trouble with the Seamen's Union has extended to the steamer Suva, which was due to sail for Melbourne to-night. It was found that the crew was several members short. The remainder will be paid off and the vessel laid up. The owners are still- unable to secure a crow for the Merimbula, and her sailing I>rs_ been indefinitely postponed.—Press Association. MELBOURNE, Jan. 5. The steamer Nairana, on the MelbourneLounceston run, was three men short in her crew at the time when she should have sailed to-day. The owners decided to lay the ship up and the crew was paid off. The secretary of the Victorian branch of the Seomcn'3 Union states fhat, unless the owners accede to the seamen's decision to pick up men at the seamen's headquarters; all steamers will be drawn into the dispute. —Press Association.

FEDERAL MINISTRY'S PART. MB BRUOE'S STATEMENT. Received January 6, 9.35 a.m. MELBOURNE, Jon. 6. Referring to the statement of Mr Pratten, that,' if the people of any State were seriously inconvenienced by the dislocation of the inter-State shipping services, the Federal Ministry might seriously consider the question of exercising the right of applying the exemption clauses of the Navigation Aot to permit oi ! overseas vessel currying passengers between inter-State ports, Mr Bruce, the Premier, says that no action of the kind is contemplated by the Federal Ministry.—Pres* Association. MANY VESBELS IDLE. Received January 6, 9.55 a.m. SYDNEY. Jan. 6. As a result of the seamen's Btrike there are now 38 vessels of an aggregate tonnage of 130,713 tons laid up, 'the sea transport group has decided to call upon alt unions to co-operate actively against the Newcastle and Hunter River Steamship Company.—Press Association. PILOT CREW DOWNS TOOLS. Received January 6, a.m. PERTH, Jan. 6. When the steamer Boron Mac Lay aimed in tho Gage Roods, Freemanllo, tho crew of the pilot boat refused to lake the pilot out to her. Tho Boron Mac Lay is the third vessel chartered by the Commonwealth Line lo arrive ot Freemantle. The jilot crew's action is another breach of the Melbourne agreement. —Press Association. UNION'S POLICY DECIDED. Received Jenuarv 6, 10.50 a.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 6. At the conclusion of a meeting of the Returned Soldiers' and Sailors' Waterside Workers' Union, a statement was issued by responsible officials who said that the union had definitely decided to establish its Own picking up headquartyrs. It has an assurance from tho shipping companies thitt it may be called upon to supply much labour on Wednesday and the union has requested Cabinet to make available certain premises which are now vacant. Cabinet has also been asked to take drastic action to prevent tho Federal Government from interfering with the Prefer-* ence Act. . All the returned members of r the- federation have been invited to join the union when they will be offered equal privileges with its own members.—-Press Association.

SEAMEN BEFORE COURT. ONE DEFENDANT SENT TO GAOL. Received January 6, 10.50 a.m. PERTH, Jan. 5. The hearing of further charges against 22 aeamen of the steamer Volumnia of having refused duty has commenced at the Police Court. 'The charges are being taken separately. The.first man. Stephen Cloquito. was found guilty and the Magistrate imposed a further sentence of eight weeks' imprisonment. Notice of appeal has been lodged.-HPress Association.