DEFIANCE OF THE LAW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19119, 10 September 1925, Page 9

DEFIANCE OF THE LAW.

MEN EVADE ARREST. COMMUNIST HALL SCENE. WORD DELIBERATELY BROKEN. By Telesraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received 12.35 a.m.) A. aud N.Z.' SYDNEY. Sept. 9. Warrants having been issued for the arrest of 89 British seamen who are on strike the police this morning visited the Commnuist Hall, which is the strikers' headquarters, and warned the strikers that- arrests would shortly be made. The officers of the law said they did not want any trouble and asked the men to go quietly. The police then deferred action until the afternoon in order to allow the men to attend the funeral of one of their number who had died in hospital. After the funeral the police returned to the hall to execute the warrants. The Strikers' Committee and the police agreed that the names of the seamen who were to be served with the warrants should be announced at a special meeting, and that those who answered to their names would submit quietly to arrest. • Police Effectually Baulked.

The police waited patiently outside the hall while the names of the seamen were called. None of them responded. The police once more departed. A sensation came late in the afternobn. The police suddenly jumped from trams and spread across the street. Each seaman as he came along was questioned individually and had to produce his identification card. The police announced that they would not he bauiked and were determined to make the arrests. Street traffic was congested while the police, accompanied by officers from the various ships, endeavoured to identify the members of the crews. Many of the strikers disappeared as soon as the police arrived. Then police and plain-clothe? men dashed upstairs in the Communist Hall where a meeting of seamen from the Orama was being held - in camera. The police were powerless there, however, as warrants had not been issued I. against the crew of this vessel. Later police reinforcements arrived outside the hall. A crowd of over 1000 seamen had by that , time congregated. Excited Crowds Gather. It was decided that the strikers should be given one more opportunity to answer to their names, and many of them entered the hall. There they were addressed by Walsh, but still there was no response when the names were called. The whole neighbourhood was now seething with excitement. Crowds continued to gather from all quarters. J. Garden; secretary of the Sydney Trades and Labour Council, came to the steps of the hall and announced that he would not allow the police to enter. He asserted that they would have to obtain search warrants. After a chase the police effected one arrest. When the meeting ended Walsh said the police had made themselves unusually busy on behalf of the master-classes. They had entered the Communist Hall without search warrants. Ho had yet to learn from a Labour Minister that the police could, invade private premises , with-, out search warrants to search for recalcitrant seamen. •

In spite of the efforts of the pickets a considerable number of men have boarded the Orama. , This vessel will probably be the next to leave. At Melbourne warrants for the arrest of 107 striking seamen have been issued. Another batch of 225 will bo issued tomorrow.

ALL QUIET AT HOME. NO VESSELS HELD UP. EXTREMISTS BADLY BEATEN. (Received 8,55 p.m.) A. and N.Z.—Sun. LONDON. Sept. 8. The British Seamen's and Firemen's Union reports that every British steamship has sailed punctually with full crews. At Cardiff everything is as peaceable as on a Sunday. The Marine Workers' Union's undertaking to pay 15s a week to the strikers is limited to its own members because of the smallness of the union's funds. It is authoritatively stated that the general council ,of the Trades Union Congress refused to receive a deputation from the unofficial strike committee. The congress received a report to the effect that efforts to amalgamate the Seamen's and Firemen's Union and the Marine Workers' Union have broken down.

Mr. E, Shinwell declared the report to be a shameful anti-trades union document. They had been striving for 15 years, he said, against the autocratic, anti-trades union actions* of "that notorious reactionary, Havelock Wilson."

The seamen's strike committee, having failed to receive a hearing at the congress, issued a circular pointing out that the rank and file had not been consulted about the wages reduction and describing Mr. Havelock Wilson as a betrayer.

The circular also stated that Mr. Wilson had betrayed the whole trades union movement and smashed the unity of the working class movement by retreating in the face, of a ferocious attack. "We believe his decision was arrived at in conjunction with the shipping companies." A HOSTILE CROWD. ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE. LONDON. Aus. 27. Groups of strikers to-day gathered outside the Police Court when George Read, assistant secretary of the Stepney branch of the National Seamen's 'and Firemen's Union, was charged with attempting to murder, two strikers. The crowd did not attempt to enter the Court. A detective gave evidence that it would be safer for Read if he were remanded in custody, because he had been considerably worried over the strike, and the crowd was very hostile. Read, however, appealed for bail, asserting that Mr.; Havelock Wilson would act as surety for any amount. He was anxious to enter the Seamen's Union's country convalescent home, to receive medical treatment for a week. The magistrate granted bail, accepting Mr. Havelock Wilson as surety for £IOO.