AUSTRALIAN SEAMEN’S STRIKE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 121, 23 May 1919, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN SEAMEN’S STRIKE

ALL QUIETTAT SYDNEY

COMPULSORY BALLOT ORDERED

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association)

SYDNEY, May 22.

Matters in connection with the shipping trouble are quiet. The chief development is that the State Government, at the request of the coastal steamship owners, has ordered a compulsory ballot of members of the Seamen’s Union, under the powers conferred by the Arbitration Act, to, ascertain if a majority favour the strike.

Representatives of the shipowners and the seamen received summonses to-day to attend the compulsory conference called by the Federal Arbitration Court, to bo held at Melbourne on Monday.

As coastal vessels reach their various home ports in Queensland 1 , New South Wales, and Victoria, their crews leave. Many ships are already tied up. It is stated that so far as the Union Company’s steamers are concerned only individual members of the crews left the ships in Sydney, which is not the home port of all of them. It is also stated that if, is not expected that there will be any trouble regarding Now Zea-’ Zealand steamers.

DEADLOCK REGARDING BALLOT

NEW ZEALAND CREWS GIVING

NOTICE

(Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn & Rcutei)

SIDNEY, May 22.

A deadlock has arisen over the compulsory ballot, A meeting of the Seamen’s Union considered the matter. and decided that as the strike existed in more than one State it was now a Federal matter, and the New South Wales section could not therefore bo compelled to take a ballot, ihe sciu* tineers appointed by the Department of Industries to act the seamen refused to act . .. The Ivarori and Atua arrived from New Zealand. The crew of the former cave 24 hours’ notice The Kan.ua s crew also gave notice, expiring to-mor-row, but it is hoped to get her away before the notice expires. The Manuka was clue to have sailed this afternoon, but was delayed partly owing to heavy rain and also to a number of the crew giving notice It is hoped to get her away early in the morning. '

EFFECTS OF THE TROUBLE ALREADY APPARENT.

(Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 8.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day

Already the effects of the shipping troublo ftTc beginning to be felt. Ibe hold-up of coastal shipping has already reduced supplies of fish, butter, eggs and other food supplies, while- 1000 tons of goods in the other States are awaiting delivery. The Rivcrina is amongst the steamers whose crews withdrew.

CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

NO ABATEMENT AT BRISBANE

(Press Association —Copyright)

(Rec. 8.40 a.m) SYDNEY, This Day

Despite the long spell of wet weather the influenza position maintains improvement. The death rate has sluunk to small proportions and the new cases, in both city and country arc steadily decreasing. Reports from the southern slates are o! a similar character. In Brisbane the disease has a. strong hold and is still spreading. Oyer seven hundred cases are in the, hoep’tals, through the oroportion of deaths is not high. ‘ The Public Services are much hampered by the heavy sick list.

SEAMEN’S OFFICIAL RESIGNS.

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association

(Rec. 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Assistant-Secretary of the Seamen’s Union has resigmed as a protest against the men striking withou*. ballot.

A QUEENSLAND REQUEST.

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.)

(Rec, 10.30 a.m.) BRISBANE, This Day,

The Acting-Premier is in communication with Mr Watt, asking permission for the Queensland Government to charter cargo vessels for the purpose of relieving the situation brought about by the strike.

WATERSIDERS. AGAINST A

STRIKE

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association)

(Rec. 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Waterside Labourers’ Union decided to cable to air Havelock Wilson, asking him to use his utmost endeavours to prevent oversea shipping being stopped or curtailed; as it was that if if was stopped the cos<T~&T living would soar sky high. _ The Returned Soldiers’ Wharf Labourers’ Union decided not to participate in a strike, as they believe in the settlement of disputes by -arbitration.

LOYALISTS TERRORISED

OFFER BY STRIKERS.

(Australian & N.Z Cable Association

(Rec. 10.30 a.m.)

MELBOURNE, This Day.

'lhe seamen decided that donkeymen return to work to enable the wharf labourers to continue unloading coal. Tlie terrorist party of wharf labourers succeeded in. driving all loyalists from the wharves. They also assaulted several loyalists in the streets. The strikers informed tho shipowners that as the wharves were free to loyalists they wero now prepared to continue loading if. all privileges lost as a result of -the 1917 strike are restored.

The owners decided to suspend ail 1 work until after the compulsory conference, when, if the strike was not settled, work would be resumed by loyalists under police protection.