31 IDLE STEAMERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 15 July 1925, Page 5

31 IDLE STEAMERS

IN AUSTRALIAN PORTS TALK OF A GENERAL STRIKE NEW ZEALAND NOT AFFECTED

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) A N.Z. Cable Association.)

SYDNEY, July 14

Hi-1',,1'0 tlic coal tribunal the owners representative stated that. owing to the seamen’s strike there were fourteen collieries idle on the northern field, as there were nn ships to transport the coal. A meeting of the transport- group unions ditvusxd the shipping dispute and the ouestion 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 tne transport group will have consulted their respective organisations with a view to calling n genera! strike. The seamen are still manning the Commonwealth Line of steamers but an effort will he made on 'lhursday to withdraw them from the ships. Representatives of the gas workers and electrical trades unions attended the transport group meeting aid there was talk of plunging the city into darkness, but no importance list attached to this in union circles.

It i s .stated that the steamers on New Zealand articles will not he affected as it is believed the New Zealand union is not anxious to be drawn into the dispute. It is feared, however, that a number of ships' of the Union Company working on Australian articles will lie seriously interfered with. There are now thirty-one vessels idle in Australian ports and by the end of the week it is expected that many more will he addl'd |o the list.