SHIPPING HOLD-UP

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12200, 27 July 1925, Page 7

SHIPPING HOLD-UP

LESSON FOR AUSTRALIA CONTRAST TO BRITISH SEAMEN STRIKELESS DECADE CELEBRATED By Telemraph.—Press. Assn.— Copyright. Australian and N.Z Cable Association. (Received July 23, 6.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 24. : Australians who are suffering from a shipping strike and the chronic uncertainty of marine transport will probably read opch-mouthed and in amazement the contrast in London, where the shipowners, and Seamen and Firemen’s Union shared in the expense of s dinner to oelebrate a strikeless decade. Four hundred men were present, including whom were peers,: commoners, shipowners, shipmasters, seamen, and firemen, and their wives and daughters. The Trade Union leaders were conapiouously absent, except Messrs'Frank Hodges and Ben Tplett. The owners and aeomCb toasted each other in champagne. Mr Alan Anderson pointed out that the shipowners and seamen had held eight conferences instead of. eight strikes during the past eight years, with the result that the British seamen's wages were double that of every Continental country, and representing an inoresse of 70, per cent, over 1914. 1 Mr Havelock Wilson challenged the seamen in any part of the Empire, where strikes had preceded conciliation, to show better results.INTER^TATESERVICES TRANSPORT GROUP RERSOLU- , TION STATEMENT BY WALSH. By Telegraph.—Prean Asms.—Copyright.. , SYDNEY, July 25. A meeting of the transport group resolved: that in order that the community 'should suffer ‘ho’ inconvenience •as the result of the present dislocation of tlje, shipping industry group, it offers its co-operation .to the Prime Minister in maintaining inter-State services. . It considered that the Government should commission all'the idle vessels of the Commonwealth Line and other .idle vessels in the; various ports of the Commonwealth, which the group will undertake to work in accordance with the terms of an agreement between the Commonwealth Snipping Board and the group. Mr Walsh states that'he intends to communicate with the shipowners on Tuesday, to notify them what progress the seamen are making in their consideration af the terms of settlement laid down, and t|ie probable date at which the union desired the conference should again be called together.