SHIPPING STRIKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19616, 21 October 1925, Page 7

SHIPPING STRIKE

POSITION IN AUSTRALIA. COUNTING THE COST. PRIMARY PRODUCERS ALARMED. Ptm* A«»oci*tlon—Br Telefjrmph—Copyne** SYDNEY, October 20. Forty-four British ships in Australian ports have been rendered idle by tho strike, the aggregate tonnage being 381,500, showing a loss to Saturday last of £750.000. It is estimated that the British seamen in Australia have lost £35,000 in wages. Local trade is t baing hampered and restricted by the non-arrival of the present season's goods. A moderate valuation of the inward and outward cargoes on British ships held up is £3,000,000, and it is considered that at least 25 per cent, of the inward cargoes would have been sold by this time if the goods had been landed to scheduled time. The greatest apprehension is felt among the primary producers regarding the ultimate effects of the strike. The export of beef has practically ceased. It is estimated that over £1,000,000 worth of this commodity is held up, and it is feared that the overseas markets once lost through irregular deliveries will never be regained. COMPULSORY CONFERENCE. RELEASE OF STRIKERS DEMANDED. SYDNEY, October 20. After the compulsory conference yesterday the seamen s delegates reported to a mass meeting of their comrades, who decided to adhere to their demand for tho release of the imprisoned seamen, and until the demand was granted not to make any move towards a settlement. The striking seamen decided to attend to-day's conference, but refused to state what attitude their delegates would adopt. The executive of the British Seamen's Strike Committee telegraphed the- secretary of the Strike Committee in Melbourne stating that there was every possibility of a settlement, and instructing him to approach the Victorian Government to urge the release of all the imprisoned strikers. At present there ar« only two British seamen in gaol in Victoria. CONFERENCE PROVES ABORTIVE. MEN REMAIN OBDURATE. STATEMENT BY MR JUSTICE POWERS. STRIKERS' ATTITUDE UNBRITISH. SYDNEY, October 20. (Received Oct. 20, at 9.5 p.m.) When the compulsory conference met again to-day the seamen's representatives reiterated their intention not to negotiate until all the imprisoned strikers were released. As they also would not submit their claims for consideration by arbitration in view of the shipowners' refusal to. help them to secure the release of their imprisoned comrades Mr Justice Powers was unable to refer the matter into court and consider it in the usual way. The conference therefore proved abortive. Mr Justice Powers in a lengthy statement that the men should go back to the ships and settle disputes on the best terms it was possible to secure at the moment under protest and return to England, relying on their powerful union there to secure full consideration of their claims Hs pointed out that the shipping companies' representatives had refused to consider the men's claims because they had refused duty, and also because the owners could not pay the rates demanded without paying the" same rates in other parts of the world. By dishonouring their agreement the men wbuld lose the sympathy of the public both here and in England and stand for the first time as British seamen who had treated their articles and their bond as Germany had treated Belgium's "scran of paper." This was not British. They should not accept the advice of those who had advised them for the advisers' own interest and not for the men's benefit. He felt it his duty as a conciliator to put the case before the men so that they misfit end flie strike. They had been sadly misled in taking up and maintaining the position they had taken up. Whoever had suggested the condition that the imprisoned men should be released before the strikers negotiated or returned to work was a very clever opponent to conciliation and arbitration. LEVY TO ASSIST STRIKERS. SYDNEY UNIONISTS TO RECONSIDI'T ATTITUDE. SYDNEY, October 20. (Received Oct. 20, at 10.20 p.m.) In view of the attitude which the British seamen have taken in regard to the intervention of the Arbitration Court there is a probabilitv of the Sydney seamen, who have been paying a weekly levy of 5s to assist them, withdrawing their support. They will meet to-morrow to reconsider their attitude towards the strikers. HOLD-UP OF ULIMAROA. AN EXAMPLE OF JOB CONTROL. SYDNEY, October 20. The dispute in connection with the Ulim&roa was caused by a claim for overtime amounting to £12." The union alleges that this sum is due to a few members of the crew through the sailing of the w?sel from Newcastle last week having been delayed. The matter has been referred bv the owners to the executive of the inter-State Association at Melbourne. This course will now be adopted in the case of every inter-State ship held up, as it is regarded as an effective- method of stamping out job control. VIOLENCE AT TERTH. STEAMER APOLDA RAIDED. PERTH, October 20. The strikers again raided the steamer Aoolda at Bunbury. They ralcpd out the fires, drew the firebars, and dropped two anchors. There was a heavv swell at the time, and onlv the shallow draucht of the vessel prevented it from b-Miicr extensively damaged. Arrangements had been made on the previous day for the engineers to get up steam, and every precaution was taken to prevent the seaman from interfering, but late in the (ifternoon the strikers rushed across the deck and achieved their object.