SHIPPING AND STRIKES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14702, 9 December 1909, Page 6

SHIPPING AND STRIKES.

Tho Shipping Gazette and Lloyd's List of October says: —"The prevalence of sorioils strikes on _thn Continent in recent years, with their disastrous, though temporary, etleet upon the trade of ports, sucll as Hamburg, Antwerp, Kotierdam, and Gothenburg, and the serious growth of Soc-ialislic propaganda in Continental countries generally, has of recent years given rise to a fc-eling that a strong combination of European shipowners was needed in order to make a stand against common danger. The lirst practical proposals iu this direction were put forward ut a meeting of representatives of shipowners from ihe United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, and Atislria-ilungaty held in London in October, 1907. As was to be expected, considerable didiculties presented themselves in tho attempt to form a combination of this wide character, embracing, as it would, so many competing and .such conflicting interests. A draft, scheme was, however, put iulo shape, and has boon the subject of conlinued mutual consideration and discussion from that date until a week ago, when a linal meeting of representatives from most of tho countries which took part, in I lie original gathering was held, and resulted iu the approval of a memorandum and articles of association , which have now been registered under the English Companies Acls. The result is an International Shipping Federation, comjirisiii'; tho United Kingdom, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, with tho probability that other countries with important shipping interests are likely to join ns soon as national federations have been formed in those countries, the International Shipping- Federation being a federal ion of existing federations. Tho principal objects aro tho protection of the shipping of the countries forming the federation in the various ports of those countries aeainst strikes and labour difficulties of all kinds. The necessih- of such an organisa lion has boeu felt not least by British sllipown?j".s. who huve naturally been Iho largest sufferers in the disputes'which have taken place abroad within the last few years, and which have been unfortunately prolonged owing to tho want of oft'ectivc organisations for defending shipowners' interests. As is well known, the exifitinsr British Shipping Federation does not. lake any part in foreign labour disputes. The operations of tho federation, which aro of a purely defensive character, are, of course, at present Intent, but the details of .organisation are well advanced, and as each component federation has been busy improving its own organisation recently, there is no doubt that tho new insiitulion will prove itself an effective lighting concern at any iioinl al which the common interest of shipowners may find itself menaced.'!

The chief office of the federation is to bo ill London. 1