RESULT OF STRIKE

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12249, 22 September 1925, Page 7

RESULT OF STRIKE

MONTHS OF TRADE DISLOCATIONCONFERENCE WILL MEET TO DAY SUCCESS SEEMS UNLIKELY By 1 sleavaph.—Press Assn. —Copyright (Received September 21, 8.55 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 21. The Federal executive of the Commonweajith Labour Council has been recalled to Sydney, and will meet the Oversea Shipping Representatives’ Association in conference to-morrow, to discuss the strike situation. The strikers’ representatives, however, state that the men will stand firmly to their original claims, and will not enter negotiations while seamen are still in gaol. Later. Mr J. M. Baddeley, Minister for Labour, and representatives of the Waterside Workers’ Federation will attend the conference,. After a meeting of the striking seamen the chairman said the representatives of the men would probably meet the owners at a conference, but they would not negotiate for a settlement. Many strikers had taken shore positions, and would not apply for re-

engagement even when the strike was over. The Shipowners’ Representatives Association states that even if the strike were to end _ to-morrow, months of trade dislocation lie ahead, and if the strike continues (Australia will face an economic disaster. PARALYSIsIjFTRANSPORT ' “NATIONAL CALAMITY IMPENDING” SHIPOWNERS’ STATEMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. SYDNEY, September 21. Mr Seale, deputy-president of the Overseas Shipping Representatives’ Association, in a statement, says that Australia is on the verge of national paralysis as appalling as the result of a successful blockade by enemy submarines. This will be the direct effect not of the confliot between British shipowners and seamen but of one of a succession of blows aimed at the British Empire. “It is time,” says Mr Seale, “that the people of Australia understood the truth of the present shipping crisis and realised that national calamity is impending. “Australia’s prosperity is bound up in the maintenance of her oversea trade. Without transport her produce will be held up and paralysis ensue which must gravely affect every branch of industry and commerce in the Commonwealth. A wide and growing wave of stagnation and unemployment will sweep the whole conntry. Among those who will feel the catastrophe most keenly will he primary producers.” “REVOLT AGAINST UNIONISM” After reviewing the circumstances leading to the reduction of the seamen’s wages and the agreement ultimately arrived at, which was accepted by a delegate meeting representing 72 branches of the Seamen’s Union and confirmed by the annual general meeting of the union, Mr Seale continues: “The present strike is a revolt against unionism. The oversea shipowners who are standing firmly by the agreement are actually fighting the battle of the British union as well as protecting their own interests. “Despite statements made to the contrary, the owners have been ready at any time to meet the representatives of the British seamen on strike, but they are not prepared to negotiate upon a matter decided by the union itself and agreed to by 50,000 seamen. Our invitation to the seamen is to rejoin their ships and state any grievances to the Board of Trade upon their arrival in London.” AGITATORS" FAIL OTHER UNIONS STAY AT WORK NO CHANGE IN POSITION. Beater’e Telegram. (Reoeived September 21, 7.15 p.m.) LONDON, September 20. The position created by tbe shipping strike has not changed during the past week. The executive of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, the transporters’, shipwrights’, plumbers, and boilermakers’ unions have instructed their members to remain at work. Several executives have called recalcitrant local officials to explain their activities, and the local officials retaliated by appeal’ ing to the Trade Union Congress, but they got no satisfaction. The agitators’ difficulties me accentuated by the fewer arrivals of overseas vessels for repair, the upshot being that thoir efforts to extend the strike to the shipyards have failed. steamerTdelayed TROUBLE WITH CREWS. Per Frees AssociationAUCKLAND, September 21. The departure of the Waitomo for Newcastle was delayed on Saturday night by absentees from her crew. The vacancies were filled on Sunday, and she sailed at 4 p.m. The Katoa completed her loading for southern ports on Saturday evening. The crew objected to the way the vessel wns trimmed, and refused to go to sea, and her departure was postponed till noon to-day. I