THE FRENCH ADVANCE

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12251, 24 September 1925, Page 5

THE FRENCH ADVANCE

MUCH TERRITORY REGAINED Beater 1 * Telegram. .PARIS, September 22. . A communique from Fez, summing up French operations for the past week, states that the French have now reoccupied all the posts established in 1922, except the JTaiia sector. The most important political result is _the reoccupation of Zawia Amjot, whose sacred college exercises a religious and political influence throughout Morocco, and the reinstallation of the Sherif Derkawi, one of the most loyal French supporters, who is now enabled to return to his residence. SPANIARDS HANGING ON According to a French correspondent in Morocco there are now 8500 Spanish troops in the peninsula of Morro Nuevo. It is hoped soon to increase the total to 18,000, but rough seas have prevented the disembarkation of reinforcements. The Spaniards’ greatest difficulty hitherto has been lack of water. Two tankers have been beached providing temporary relief. (SviTne. "Sun" Cable.) (Received September 23, 6.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 22. The Riffs, after a bloody conflict, repulsed Spanish forces attempting to advance at Alhuceinas. KRIM NOT A CASUALTY Reuter's Telegram. Apparently the , report that Abd-el-Krim was wonnded was due to confusing him with the Riff Chief Abd-el-Kacem, who was wounded at Targsist.

HARBOUR TRADE SUFFERS

ANXIOUS FOR SETTLEMENT SHIPOWNERS’ POSITION DETAILED “STRIKE MAY LEAD TO BREAK UP OF EMPIRE” Important remarks hearing on the seamen’s strike were made at the meeting bf the Wellington Harbour Board last night, ’at which Mr M. Cohen presided.

The chairman said the monthly statistics were a reflex of the strike conditions now prevailing, as the comparison for August, 1925 with August, 1924, showed a decrease of 13,000 tons, which was not a serious amount considering the circumstances. In other aspects the trade was normal. They hoped the difference "would be made up when things were re-started. Mr J. G. Cobbe said one serious aspect was the considerable quantity of frozen meat and butter which waa being held up. There was a very large amount stored, and it was causing anxiety as to whether advances which were usually given on shipment could be obtained. It seemed to him thkt beyond sending a few men to gaol nothing had been done in the .direction of a settlement. It was a pity something could not be done to that end. Ihe matter was becoming very serious, and while ho did not know what action could bo taken, if the matter was fully ventilated something might be accomplished. Mr T. Moss asked a question relating to the possibility of storing. butter m the cheese store, but in the subsequent discussion no reply was given. While farmers could produce the stuff it was being held up because tho men refused to handle it, said Mr Mass. Mr G, H. Chapman said so far as he could_ judge the strike had nothing to do with the unions in New Zealand, It was purely a strike of overseas sea- j men whose headquarters were in Bri tain. When men hud been accustomed to complete a voyage on oertain wage* they naturally felt aggrieved if a reduction was made, on the voyage. Of course they Would have been pleased had there been an increase during the voyage. , Mr Moss: They would have refused it. (Laughter.) .

STANDING BY THEIR FELLOWS Mr Chapman said he thought they would have taken it. The trouble had nothing to do with the unionists of New Zealand, although there was a common understanding—which waa to their credit—that they should stand by a felbody of unionists when in trouble. ■They had nothing to do with creating thO'trouble, and New Zealand unionists desired nothing more than that a sat'sfactory termination of the trouble should he reached at the earliest possible moment.

Mr C. M. Turrell _ 6aid shipowners were doing'all in their power to bring about a settlement. The clause in the agreement with the Maritime Board was made, seven years ago,, that if an increase was made during a voyage the men would get it. and if a decrease was made it would also take effect. Why should men on a three years voyage remain on the old wage while -others received an increase if one was made? The date on which increases or decreases were to take effect' was decided by the Maritime Board, and this year they deoided on, a decrease of £1 per month on August Ist. In 1924 they had an increase under exactly the same conditions, which took effect upon the date decided upon, irrespective of whether the men were in New Zealand, China, or London. The bulk of the British trade was tramp trade. Would it be fair that a ship which' left on the ,last day of "July should get a higher rate than the ship which left on August Ist? And should shipowners have to compete with ships which left a day later on a lower wage. It was only fair to arrange that the wages all over the world should rise or fall on a particular day, so that the men stood on an equality. The shipowners had done their utmost to meet the men in every possible way, offering not to stop their allotments and not to fine them if they would return to the ships. They offered the Ruahintmen ta pay their fares to Auckland. The shipowners only raid they must abide' by the agreement which vat made by the menfs representatives, and which the bulk of them were abiding by.

ACTUATED BY COMMUNISTS Ships had sailed out of England since August Ist, and 50,000 men had signed on at ihe present rate. There had been no hold-up of ships, but the men out here, actuated by Communists, were trying to upset the most loyal union in the British Empire and if it succeeded it was the beginning of the end British trade. So far as the British Empire was concerned, it depended on its overseas carriage, and the British mercantile marine was the bulk of the mercantile marine of the world. If the British mercantile marine was to be . broken up in that way at the instigation of foreign communists. then no man in that room should stand for anything like that. The British mercantile marine showed itself in the war as the most staunch and loyal union in the world, and when ■Mr Chapman said the unionists of New Zealand were not at the hack of the trouble he was right so far as the executives were concerned.

A SIGNIFICANT FACT But the unionists of New Zealand were paying towards the keep of the strikers, arid levies were being made to support tnem. Without that support they copld not go on much longer, so that, there was the significant fact that levies were being made for their benefit on the unions, / The British shipowners had made an • € o* ? nc * * conference was being held 1 Sydney between the representatives ® ®kipown#rs and tbe men, and the men had been told, as they would see by the cabled report next day, and the position was clearly stated by Mr j * chairman of the Federation at Home, and a member of the Maritime Board, showing that this : ft national question as to whether the agreements made were to be broken or upheld. If agreements of that kind were to be broken by a minority actuby outside influences which were tS r . benefit of the Empire, then the British Empire would go under in such circumstances. The men had oeen told that if they had a grievance they could put it before the Board of trade when they got Home, and if the board decided that the.*& was anything treatment it would be There could be no question of allowing these men to break their contract.

The chairman: The sense of the . 18 wliilo we deplore the conditions view the result with

anxiety, there is nothing the hoard can do to alleviate the position. If it were possible, we would grasp the opportunity with great earnestness.