THE BRITISH SEAMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19214, 31 December 1925, Page 9

THE BRITISH SEAMEN.

MR. WALSH AND NEW UNION. CRITICISM IN AUSTRALIA. A. and N.Z. SYDNEY, Dec. 30. The consensus of opinion at the Trades Hall is that the new British Seamen's Union formed during the recent strike will be disbanded owing to insufficient support. The leaders of most of the maritime unions were always sceptical regarding the success of the venture. They pointed out that the needs of the British seamen were already adequately met by Mr. Havelock Wilson's organisation. There is much opposition among the rank and filo of the Australian Seamen's Union, of which he is president, to the proposal that Mr. Walsh should be allowed to go to England to organise the British seamen. It is understood that some branches have given Mr. Walsh to understand that he must choose between the general presidency of the Australian Seamen's Union and the British seamen. At the seamen's meeting yesterday Mr. Walsh did not ask for leave of absence, as was expected. » It is reported that the British seamen are not enthusiastic regarding the new union. Many have expressed dissatisfaction at. tho manner in which Mr. Walsh conducted the recent strike. A message from Melbourne states that the secretary of the new Seamen's Union announces that Mr. Walsh is leaving for England at tho, end of January to take up tho position of president of the new union, and that he will remain there for 12 months.