IDLE SEAMEN

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 188, 14 July 1925, Page 7

IDLE SEAMEN

THE NUMBER INCREASING. MAY REACH EIGHT THOUSAND. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received Julv 14, 9.55 a.m. MELBOURNE, July 14. The Victorian branch of the Seamen’s Union at a well attended meeting decided to maintain the attitude it had previously taken up. Unless something unforeseen happens, the decision to leave the ships will take effect to-day.

A union official explained later that 400 men would cease work in Melbourne to-day. In a week 4000 would be idle in Australia, and ultimately 8000 seamen would be affected.—Press Association. MORE CREWS LEAVE SHIPS. EXTENSION OF THE TROUBLE. SYDNEY, July 13. The Seamen’s Union has instructed its members not to man any interstate or coastal vessels requiring crews. Already two coastal and one inter-State vessels are held up and unless an eleventh-hour settlement is reached, all the crews will be withdrawn. The seamen have extended the deadlock to all companies trading on the Australian coast and all ships will automatically be tied up as they reach port. When the Howard Smith steamer Cooma arrived the men gave notice and the ship was tied up indefinitely. Calls were made for men to replace the crew, but they were futile. The crews of the North Coast company’s steamers also gave notice and efforts to replace them were unavailing. Until a settlement is reached no crews, will be forthcoming for any but the Commonwealth Line steamers.

' A strong section of the Seamen’s Union favours making the fight a general one and including this line. The Burns, Philp Coy. has also been declared “black,” although it agreed to the men’s terms. This decision was reached because a section of the Seamen’s Union executive believes the company is bound up financially with the inter-State companies.

The transport group of unions met and adjourned until Tuesday, when the result of the conference with the owners in Melbourne may be known. —Press Associatiin.

CONFERENCE OF OWNERS. NO FINALITY" REACHED. MELBOURNE, July 13. A conference of the Commonwealth Shipowners’ Association, attended by owners from other States outside the association, has commenced, with the object of ensuring that the terms of settlement in the shipping dispute will be acceptable to all the shipowners. Beyond issuing a statement that more ships were being laid up and the immediate safeguarding of the owners’ interests would be a leading feature of the conference, no announcement has been made. The conference sat till a late hour without reaching finality. A mass meeting of seamen decided to give twenty-four hours’ notice on Tuesday on vessels at home ports belonging to owners not granting the guarantee clause. —Press Association. OWNERS STAND FIRM. WORK BEFORE NEGOTIATIONS. Received July 14, 9.55 a.m. MELBOURNE, July 14. The 1 shipowners’ conference decided to adjourn indefinitely owing to the fact that vessels are still being held up by the Seamen’s Union. It was pointed out afterwards, on behalf of the owners, that this conduct is standing in the way of successful negotiations. Before the owners will discuss a basis for settlement the seamen will have to withdraw their ultimatum to tie up the ships, and further to man the ships which are at present idle. —Press Association. MORE UNEMPLOYED. SEVERAL CREWS LEAVING TO-DAY. Received July 14, 9.55 a.m. BRISBANE, July 14. The members of the crews of several vessels have given notice that they will leave the ships to-day. The numhereof unemployed seamen will be about 100. —Press Association.