SHIPPING STRIKE

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12248, 21 September 1925, Page 7

SHIPPING STRIKE

SEAMEN AGAIN DECLINE TO ENTER CONFERENCE PARTIES PREPARE FOR ELECTION “THE CHOICE BETWEEN DEMOCRACY AND SYNDICALISM" By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. (Received September 20, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 19. Mr M. Charlton, Leader of the Federal Labour Party, met the overseas shipowners’ representatives to-day, with a view to arranging a conference for the purpose of reaching a settlement on the strike. He was informed that they were willing to confer with the seamen’s representatives, and, as an act of courtesy, were also agreeable that representatives of the Waterside Workers’ Federation and the Inter-State Conference of Labour Councils should be present. Mr Bruce’s decision to force an early election has thrown both the political camps into a state of extreme activity. The campaign will be short and sharp, and there is every indication that it will be very bitter. (Received September 21, 1 a.m.) Mr Charlton’s efforts to arrange a conference proved abortive. The seamen, decided not to confer with' the owners until all the imprisoned men have been released. The strikers’ executive Has made counter-proposals to th» Waterside Workers’ Federation, that in the event of the strike not being settled by the end of the week all vessels arriving from England be declared “black.” The watersiders will hold a meeting to-morrow to consider the proposal. (Received September 20, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 19. The “Observer,” in an editorial, states; —‘‘Mr Bruce felt if was time the strikers’ claim to be above the law should be submitted to the deliberate judgment of the Australian people. Since the commencement of the shipping strike he has taken a grave view of the Labour autocracy issue, the gravity of which has been heightened by the New South Wales Government’s apparent connivance in disdain of the general community. “The choice between democracy and syndicalism will be put to the Australian people in an unusually direct form at the coming election.”