GAUNTLET PICKED UP

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 1273, 15 July 1925, Page 7

GAUNTLET PICKED UP

SEAMEN GIVE 24 HOURS’ NOTICE Complete Shipping Hold-Up Begins THIRTY-ONE VESSELS ALREADY IDLE [By Electric Cable--Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Tuesday, 9.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, July 14. The seamen have handed in 24 hours’ notice of their intention to leave the ships thus ending further negotiations between the shipowners and the transport group. The absence of any message last night from this group in Sydney precipitated the crisis, as the seamen expected instructions to hold their hands. The men decided for the present net to hold up the Tasmanian boats. The Federal Cabinet was hurriedly summoned to deal with the situation, at which Mr. Bruce pointed out the necessity of continuing the essential services. Although he refused to disclose what had transpired at the meeting, stating that a hold-up had not actually occurred, it is ascertained that a tentative Plan to deal with the situation has been agreed upon. “FIGHT TO FINISH.’ 5 OWNERS REJECT LAST ADVANCES. N.Z. SHIPS WILL BE AFFECTED. (Received Wednesday, 12.50 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 14. Before the Coal Tribunal, the owners’ representatives stated that owing to the seamen’s strike, there were fourteen collieries idle on the northern field, as there w*ere no ships to transport coal. A meeting of the transport group of unions discussed the shipping dispute and the question of a general stoppage of industry, but adjourned until Thursday without reaching finality. In the meantime, meetings of wharf labourers and seamen will have been held and delegates of the transport group win have consulted their respective organisations with a view to calling a general strike. The seamen arc still manning the Commonwealth line of steamers, but an effort will be made on Thursday to withdraw from these ships. Representatives of the gas workers and electrical trades unions attended the transport group meeting and there wai talk of plunging the city into darkness. but no importance is attached to this in union circles. It is stated that steamers on the New Zealand articles will not be affected, as It is believed the New- Zealand union is not anxious to bo drawn into the dispute. It is feared, however, a number of ships of the Union Company, working on Australian articles, will be seriously interfered with.

There are now thirty-one vessels idle in Australian ports and by the end o£ the week it is expected many more will be added to the list.

At Melbourne, a meeting of the Steamship Owners’ Association considered a message from the transport group in Sydney, offering to withdraw the seamen’s strike threat if a further conference with the owners was granted. The' owners rejected the proposal, stating that they -were prepared to fight to a finish. BRITISH COALi CRISIS. ' THE INQUIRY COMMISSION. (Received Tuesday, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 13. In the Commons, Mr. Baldwin announced that the Commission of Inciuiry into the coal mining dispute would consist of Messrs MacMillan, P.C., W. Sherwood and Josiah Stamp. Mr. Sherwood is the official negotiator for the National Union of General Workers. He isi an authority on the Labour conciliation question.