LONDON STATEMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 5 December 1927, Page 5

LONDON STATEMENT

AUSTRALIA WILL BE COM PLETELY ISOLATED

LONDON, 2nd Dec. British and foreign shipowners trading with Australia issue a statement pointing out that Australia will in a short time bo completely isolated. Asserting that the present deadlock was forced upon them by the Waterside Workers' Federation treating the conditions of arbitration courts contemptuously the shipowners have no wish to prolong the stoppage, but unless the men are prepared to accept (ho conditions laid down b\ r the court it will be necessary in order to prevent complete paralysis of trade, to take prompt steps to obtain any labour, including watersiders, if willing, which may come forward on the terms of awards.

DEPRESSION IN FREIGHTS

LONDON, 3rd Dec.

Among the results of the Australian strike is depression in other freight markets, as ships which should have been employed carrying Australian grain are compelled to * seek employment elsewhere.

The "Morning Post" ; shipping correspondent says the only really active market is River Plate, which' is inundated with tonnage seeking employment. Pacific trade is expected to' absorb a considerable amount of tonnage between now and February, but with Australia out.of the running charterers are getting all they require at cheap rates. Australia will have to charter sooner or later/and when the strike is over the tonnage will have to be attracted probably at appreciably higher rates than now ruling.

WAIT AND SEE ATTITUDE

LONDON, 3rd Dec. The Seamen's Union and the Transport Workers' Union have adopted a wait and see attitude in connection with the Australian strike. Neither has up to tho present received official news from Australia and docs not contemplate action.

BRITISH SEAMEN

UNLIKELY TO JOIN STBIKE (Received fith December, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, 4th Dec. Mr Jarman, secretary £f the Liverpool branch of the Seamen's Union, has gone to London to discuss the Australian deadlock with Mr Havelock Wilson. Mr Jarman says: "We will advise our members in Australia to carry on. Labourites are unlikely to he successful in pulling them out after their treatment in the former strike. Some are still stranded in Australia."