COMPULSORY CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19148, 14 October 1925, Page 11

COMPULSORY CONFERENCE.

ARBITRATION COURT ACTS. PARTIES TO MEET MON DAY. DISPUTE NOW AUSTRALIAN. By Telegraph--Press Association—Copyright. (Received 11.on p.m.) A. and N.Z. MELBOURNE. Oct, 13. The president of the Common weak n Arbitration Court, Mr. Justice Powers, has called a conference of the parties to the British seamen's dispute fur Monday at Sydney. His Honor explains that the Court did not intervene before became the dispute was world-wide and could not he settled in Australia, Now that it had been settled in other places, however, and as all attempts by the. Labour Unions' Dispute Committee, politicians and Ministers had failed, he considered it his duty to call a compulsory conference. MEN'S MORALE BROKEN. SITUATION IN AUSTRALIA. AMPLE LABOUR FOR SHIPS. Australian ;.nd X.Z. Cable. Association. (Reed. 11.5 p.m.) SYDNEY. Oct, 13. The position in regard to the British seamen's strike underwent little change to-dav. Considerable numbers of men, j including an increased proportion of strikers, offered their services to man the idle vessels. Owing to this response to the shipowners' call for crews it is expected thatseveral ships will sail from Australian ports in the course of the next few days. One of the most important aspects of the situation, in view of this call for labour, is the attitude of the Waterside Workers' Federation. Yesterday its members loaded »he Suevic and the Orvieto, and provided that the coal arrangements arc completed these vessels will sail shortly. This may lead to all the idle ships being worked at the various ports by the members of the federation. A mass meeting of strikers to-day reaffirmed their determination to refuse to man the ships until their demands are granted. Although no actual discord was manifest, there was ample indication that the morale of the men has been seriously affected by the collapse of the strike in other parts of the world. The Overseas Shipping Representatives' Association states that the strike will probably end this week as far as Australia is concerned. ; In the course of a speech at Brisbane i the Prime Minister, Mr. S. M. Bruce, said the season of maximum shipments | from Australia was; approaching and the I Commonwealth Government would not J allow produce to rot on the wharves. | The time had come when the idle over- ! seas ships must be manned, and, if neces- | r-arv, protection would be given to the I men who worked them.

' DEPORTATION WRANGLE COUNSEL AND THE BOARD. SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS MADE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 12.5 a.m.) SYDNKY, Oct. 13. The chairman of the Deportation Board announced at to-day's sitting that the board was of opinion that it had heard sufficient evidence from the striking British seamen, and that no good could be served by hearing a repetition of statements, particularly as witnesses refused to allow their evidence to be tested by cross-examination. He therefore, called on Mr. A. R. Watt. K.C., Counsel for Tom Walsh, to proceed with the next part of his- case. Mr. Watt said it was strange that this decision should have synchronised with a certain article published in a Sydney newspaper. It seemed the strongest evidence to him that, the board was acting under direct instruction. The chairman said Mr. Watt was acting in a very improper manner and that the board would not be played with any longer. If -Mr. Watt thought the board •was wrong lie could go to the High Court. The chairman added that there was no use in arguing the question. Mr. Wait replied that he was forced to say what he did not want to say. He had information that there was a tendency to force the board ;i election which would precipitate a general strike, for electioneering purposes. If that were so, it, was much to be regretted. He described the action of the board m refusing to hear further evidence as being worse than star chamber procedure. The board adjourned until to-morrow to enable Mr. Watt to consider his position.