THE SHIPPING STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19140, 5 October 1925, Page 8

THE SHIPPING STRIKE.

EFFORTS FOR SETTLEMENT,

PRIME MINISTER ACTfNG.

FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.

A WARNING FROM THE BANKS. [by TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT, j WELLINGTON. Sunday The Prime Minister is still exerting every effort to try to bring about a settlement of "she shipping strike as it ajfeets New Zealand. On Monday Mr. Coates will confer with representatives of the striking seamen and of the overseas shipowners.

The damaging effect that the shipping hold-up is beginning to have upon the finances of the Dominion generally is well exemplified by a recent warning issued by the banks to their borrowing customers connected with the export trade. This •warning points out that should the strike continue it will become necessary for the banks to request such customers to utilise their accommodation facilities as sparingly as possible and further indicates the desirability of caution in their disbursements.

Dairy companies are at present specially affected and should it become necessary to enforce a curtailment of Snan::'al accommodation it is understood that a reduction in the pay-out to tbs numerous suppliers to the various dairy factories throughout the Dominion will become inevitable.

The circular also suggests that lata- on when other kinds of the Dominion's produce come in, suck as wool and meat, the same principles will have to be abplied to those associated with these industries unless the trouble is satisfactorily settled in the meantime.

Resolutions supporting the Prime }linister in his efforts to secure a settlement of the dispute have been passed by a number of chambers of commerce, .t armors' Union branches and A. and P. associations in various parts of New Zealand.

dispute on the kueow.

CARGO FROM THE KENT,

VESSEL DELAYED FOR A DAY.

An objection to transhipment '.argo from the steamer Kent being carried on board their was the reason given by the crew of the steamer Kurow for a" refusal to go to sea on Saturday, evening.

The Kurow completed loading for Gisborne, Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin at the King's Wharf at 5 p.m. Included in the cargo is a quantity of merchandise that had been damaged on the Kent on the occasion of the fire a month ago. The Kent's crew weni. out on strike before the fire, and t.ae Kurow's men contended that by carrying cargo transhipped from a vessel whose crew are on strike they would be assisting the ship, owners to defeat the strikers. No objec tion was raised when the Kaioa and Wingatui took damaged cargo from the Kent to Southern ports some time ago.

As a result of the cargo being damaged on the Kent, the Union Company had to pay the. waterside workers extra rates to load it into the Kurow. The company's officials state that no other cargo but damaged foods was transhipped from the Kent to the Kurow. It was after the Kurow left the wharf at 6.15 p.m. that the crew informed the captain that they would not take the vessel to sea.

Officials of the Union Company and the executive of the Seamen's Unior. visited the Kurow yesterday afternoon and advised the men to take ths vessel to sea as by not doing so they would be acting illegally. The crew, however, demanded that the goods from the Kent should be first unloaded from the Kurow.

The matter was further discussed by fha men last evening, with the result that they decided to take the steamer to sea. The Kurow sailed at 11.50 p.m.

THE EFFECT ON TRADE.

HOLDING UP OF CARGOES. SIR JAMES PARR'S VIEWS.

A grave view of the possibilities of the shipping strike was taken by Sir James Parr in an address opening his campaign as member for Eden electorate at meetings a,t Brigham's Creek and Whenuapai on Saturday.

"In Auckland alone nine oversea ships are held up, and New Zealand has never been faced with a more serious situation," said the Minister. Referring to the financial consequences. Sir James said the inward ahd outward cargoes involved totalled £2,750,000 in value. Probably three-quarters of the cargo consisted i>£ primary products destined for England. The merchandise in the ships was urgently required by the importers and the public. Non-delivery would involve great hardship and inconvenience, with inevitable heavy loss through late arrival on the seasonal market. Sir James estimated that New Zealand dairy produce and meat to the value of £4,500,000 would b® held up. This situation would result ia considerable loss to dairymen and primary producers, as the strike was bound to delay deliveries. "If this strike continues into the summer, our exports, 96 per cent, of which are primary products, will not be forwarded and the country will lose over £50,000.000 in the year," said the Minister.

Continuing, Sir James said: "Obviously, the strike has got the whole community by % the throat. Its continuance indefinitely will mean the closing down of every industry, office and business in New Zealand. The Government realises; the gravity of the situation and carmot stand idly by and see the country ruined."

The Minister remarked that already the Prime Minister had been empowered to meet the parties with a view to settling the hold-up. Little progress had been made, and as icng as the situation remained so grave, Mr. Coates could not leave Wellington for a visit to his constituency.