GERMAN STEAMERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18547, 6 May 1922, Page 10

GERMAN STEAMERS

WELCOMED BY SYDNEY WHARFIEB. ■ ; ■ I CFbou Oub Own Cobbesbowdekt.) 'j SYDNEY, April 26. There is no likelihood that Sydney wharf labourers will object to handle the cargoes of German steamers, which will begin 'to arrive in Australia in a few months’ time. On the contrary, the arrival of the German steamers on the Sydney water-front will, bo welcomed by rtbarf labourers—among them many ex-soldiers. According to the men the position is too serious for them to pick and choose. There are at present 5000 idle on the water-front including, many returned soldiers. Some ; of them have' been out of decent, work since 1917. Apart from the, additional work, many of the wharf labourers Believe that when the German inerchandise is. dumped here, it .will be sold so cheaply-that local prices will have to oortie down, ■ There is a section of, the deep-sea wharfies - employed on a permanent basis,' and in the past they have been able to do prtc- ■ tioally all the lumping.. .In addition to these men.there are 1000 casuals, many of whom have not averaged daring the. last 12 months' more than a low shillings a week. Many ' ex-diggers’ arh numbered among their , ranks, ana they , have not. .the slightest hesitation in saying that,’ for the sake of their bread •and • butter they Wfll do what their jnates are doing in other parts of the world—unload .German i sb‘ipe. They firmly believe that any attempt to Kold up German cargoes in German: bottoms , would be futile because the, merchandise would be dumped into Australia to the agency of Dutch or American ships. Shipowners generally are philosophic. on the question ,6f the pe-entayr of German shipping It has.to come sooner or later, they say, and their opinion is that little will bo said or done.