JACK TARS AS STRIKEBREAKERS

Maoriland Worker, Volume 12, Issue 303, 20 December 1922, Page 8

JACK TARS AS STRIKEBREAKERS

BlaeMegged on Chinese Seamen

In "Stejad's Review," 11/11/22, i 3 inn article by John Brailsford on tlie strike of Chinese seamen, in Hong Kong. The following paragraph' will be of interest to ""seamen: . "On January 17, the- Hong Kong Government issued the ■employers'" &t£er ot a compromise; on the 19tli at announced the withdrawal of the oi&er. Th'erefafcer the owners, WITH yHE AID OF THE GOVERNMENT, ttid all in the,ir power to break the Union. " | * ■ "BRITISH XAVY " MEN- WERE USED AS STRIKE-BREAKERS;, crewa were brought from -North China ajid the Phillipisnes to replace tho strikers; unionists were imprisottertj for going aboard steamers to ca.ll out

j the crews. Nevertheless the strike spread, until in February, the idle strips in port aggregated over 250,----000 tons. "On February •2, the waterside workers came out on sympathetic strike; THE GOVERNMENT THEN OUTLAWED THE SEAMEN'S UNj lON closed its office, and thereafter j Imprisoned men who were found with. ! the Union badge. Efforts were made Jto work cargo with the aid of Europ- ! ean office men and all manner el J people, INCLUDING EVEN PRISONERS. The strike continued, despite efforts towards conciliation. On February 24, a wealthy Chinese, who was ! believed to have, been assisting in the engagement of strike-breaking cretsrs, was assassinated. Towards the end of ' Fbru-ary further 'sympathetic strikes began.* . After this the Government put the. Colony under martial law and ordained compulsory labour. The seamen,, however, won hands down. ) All this went on under the Union Jack! Strange conduct to inspire respect for the British Empire*