IN GREAT BRITAIN.

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

IN GREAT BRITAIN.

STRIKE FINALLY CALLED OFF. LONDON, October 19. The Unofficial Strike Committee in London has decided to call off the seamen's strike. —Renter. IN SOUTH AFRICA. THE STRIKERS "SOLD." DISPUTE VIRTUALLY ENDED. CAPETOWN, October 19. (Received Oct. 20, at 11.15 p.m.) The strikers are bitter at the news that the Durban committee distributed £3OOO amongst the men who returned to the ships. At a Communist meeting the strikers stated that they had been sold by Labour politicians. The. authorities to-day enforced the severest restrictions at the docks to prevent the strikers from getting in touch with the seamen of the Persic on her way to Australia who refused to join the strikers. The position is now regarded as safe, despite wild threats of staggering events —Sydney Sun Cable. IN NEW ZEALAND. FRACAS ON OTAKI. GALLEY STAFF ATTACKED. VESSEL FURTHER DELAYED. (Peb United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, October 19. To-day was the second occasion on which the seamen of the Otaki refused to take the vessel to sea. In consequence she could not leave for Wellington as intended. She was scheduled to sail at midday, but was not ready at that time, owing to all the cargo for. Auckland not having been discharged. Most of tho seamen were on board, and the majority had apparently decided not to take the vessel to sea. However, the decision was not unanimous until tho men had fought the question out among themselves with bare knuckles. The result was victory for those favourable to continuance of tho strike. The seamen then attempted to induce the cooks and bakers to join them in the strike, but this the men of the galley staff refused to do.. Some of tho seamen then tried "moral suasion" by attacking the cooks and bakers, and also by wrecking tho galley. The cooks beat a retreat. Before the baker could escape, however, he was assaulted, but was not badly hurt. The men then turned their attention to the contents of the galley, and before they finished all the crockery was smashed, and pots and pans damaged. The cooked food in the dishes was taken on deck, and as muc.i as possible was eaten by the men, who used their hands as substitutes for knives and forks. By this time a posse of police had arrived on the scene, and dispersed the men. A number of strikers went on shore, but rejoined the Otaki when the cargo work was finished, at half-past 3. As the Otaki was ready to sail the men were mustered on deck, and were asked by the captain whether they would take the ship to sea. This they refused to do. He then warned them of the consequences of their refusal, but the warning was unheeded. OTAKI'S SEAMEN IN COURT, THREE MONTHS' SENTENCE. fPra United Press Association.) AUCKLAND. October 20. Forty men of the Otaki's crew were sentenced in the Police Court this morning to three months' imprisonment, tho sentence being remitted in the case of six trimmers, who agreed to return to work on the ship unconditionally, after it was> explained to them that they would have to work with freo labour. These men wore before the court last Friday, and sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment, the sentence being suspended on their undertaking to return to duty. On being placed aboard, they refused duty. They were now sentenced to three months on tho original charge of combining to disobey lawful commands. Frederick Wilson, aged 25 years, one of the strikers, was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment on a charge of assaulting a_ free labourer. Accused followed complainant and struck him. SAILINGS FROM AUCKLAND. WAIMANA AND OTAKI DEPART. PORT HACKING'S MEN RELEASED. (Peb United Press AflsbciATiow.i AUCKLAND, October 20. Two more British ships, the Waimana and the Otaki, were despatched from Auckland to-day. The Waimana sailed at 6.40 a.m. for London, via New York and Boston, and the Otaki at 4.20 p.m. for Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin. Tho Waimana had been loaded for some weeks, but her departure was delayed by the strike. The crow now consists of 40 volunteer seamen. She is tho fourth British steamer to leave _ New Zealand with produce for England since the strike commenced. The other three ships were the Ruahine, Arawa, and Port Dunedin. The strike delayed the Otaki for only 24 hours. She was ready to sail at 3 p.m. on Monday. However, her stokers refused duty, and her departure was postponed. The dock hands, four able seamen and nine ordinary seamen, did not go on strike. The firemen and trimmers were replaced by 32 volunteer stokers. The departure of the Tainui for Opua to-morrow evening will be interesting, as sho carries a mixed crew. A number of men did not go out on strike, and some who did returned to duty again, but are more or less still in sympathy with the strikers. In addition, the ship has 30 volunteer seamen, consequently anything might occur at sailing time. In accordance with their undertaking to resume work, 23 stokers from the Port Hacking, vho last week were sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment for refusing duty, were reletscd frcm gaol to-day. They left by the Main Trunk express this evening to join 'he ship at Wellington. The engineers belonging to tho company anted as stokers on the' Port Hacking's trip from Auckland to Wellington. FREE LABOUR ON DORSET. 'Per United Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, October 19. With u complete free labour crew the Federal liner Df-rsot, which went to the stream yesterday, sailed late to-night for Wanganui. The additional free labour required was taken on board to-day without incident. HORORATA EXPECTED TO SAIL. There is still a number of vacancies in the Hororata's crew, but it is anticipated that these will be filled to-day. The ship's officers are confident that when the Hororata completes taking in the local portion of her Home cargo to-day at Port Chalmers she will have a full complement. The New Zealand Shipping Company advises that the Hororata is expected to sail this afternoon for Bluff to continue Homeward loading. Her other loading ports are Wellington, Napier, Waikokopu, Gisborne, and Auckland. DISCHARGING THE LEITRIM Satisfactory progress is being made in discharging the Dunedin portion of the Leitrim's Liverpool cargo at Port ChaJmers. It is expected that a crew will be secured before the vessel's holds are cleared, which will be about Friday. She will then sail for Bluff to complete discharge and commence loading for American and West of England ports. WILLASTON STILL AT BLUFF. Up to the present no effort has been made to man the steamer Willaston with free labour at Bluff. This vessel is under charter to the Union Company, and has been held up at Bluff for about six weeks, owing to her crew refnsina; duty. The vessel came from Pacific Coast ports, d.ik' k carrying a quantity of cargo for Au - tralia.